SEAVERI 
HACK 


UCSB    LIBRARY 


CORNELL'S  LIVES 

OF 

CLERGYMEN,  PHYSICIANS 

AND 

EMINENT  BUSINESS  MEN 

OP  THE 

NINETEENTH   CENTURY, 

WITH 

RECOLLECTIONS 

OF 
TUB  OLIDB3ST  T  1 1*0.  E  . 

BY 

WILLIAM  MASOtf  CORNELL,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

IN  THREE  PARTS: 

PART  1.  — CLERGYMEN.    PART  II.— PHYSICIANS. 
PART  III.— EMINENT  BUSINESS  MEN. 


BOSTON: 
HOWARD    GANNETT,    PUBLISHER. 

TREtfONT  TEMPLE, 
l&l. 


VOLUME  I. 


The  following  are  the  names  of  persons  noticed  in 
Volume  I :  — 


Josiah  Quiucy.  0 

John  Adams,  12 

John  Qnincy  Adams,  11) 

Rev.  Matthew  Hale  Smith,  108 
Rev.  John  Gregory,  115 

Rev.  Edward  T.  Taylor,  123 
Rev.  John  Codinan,  184 

Rev.  Richard  Suiter  Storrs,  190 
Rev.  Jonas  Perkins,  201 

Rev.  David  Sauford,  207 

Rev.  Dr.  Gile,  209 

Rev.  John  C.  Phillips,  210 
Rev.  Ebene/er  Burgess,  210 
Rev.  William  M.  Rogers,  211 
Rev.  Charles  G.  Finncy,  219 
Rev.  Ilubhard  Winslow.  229 
Rev.  Dr.  Silas  Aiken.  229 


Page 

Rev.  John  Pierpont,  230 

Rev.  Elder  Knapp,  231 

Rev.  Charles  Cleveland,  235 
Dr.  J.  C.  Warren,  241 

Rev.  Elias  Smith,  70 

Rev.  Albert  Barnes,  292 

Rev.  John  McDowell,  294 
Rev.  Henry  A.  Boardman,  295 
Rev.  Henry  Steele  Clark,  296 
R-  v.  Geo.  W.  Musgrave,  296 
Rev.  William  Blackwood,  297 
Rev.  Alfred  Nevin,  297 

Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  298 
Rev.  Charles  Wads  worth,  298 
Rev.  Elias  R.  Beadle,  299 
Rev.  James  M.  Crowcll.  300 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME   II. 


PREFACE, 


FART  I.  —  CLERGYMEN. 
CHAPTER  I. 


REV.  LYMAN  BEECHER, 

CHAPTER  II. 
REV.  ASAHEL  XETTLETON, 
REV.  NATHAN  LORD. 
REV.  JOHN  SANFORD,   .... 
REV.  JOSIAH  I? EXT.   .... 

CHAPTER  III. 

REV.  GEORGE  W.  MUSGRAVE,    . 
REV.  WILLIAM  T.  EVA.    . 
Kiev.  STETSON  RAYMOXD.     . 
REV.  HENRY  MARTIN  DEXTER, 

CHAPTER  IV. 

REV.  CALVIN  PARK 

REV.  LEWIS  BATES,  .... 
REV.  INCREASE  X.  TARBOX. 
REV.  BAALIS  SANFORD,    . 
REV.  EXOCH  SAXFORD, 

CHAPTER  V. 

REV.  RTFUS  WHEELRIGHT  CLARK, 
REV.  XEIIEMIAH  ADAMS. 
REV.  ELIJAH  DEXTER. 
UEV.  JEDEDIAH  MORSE. 

CHAPTER  VI. 
REV.  WILLIAM  ELLEUY  CHANNING, 

CHAPTER  VII. 

REV.  LORENZO  Dow 

REV.  PIIINKAS  STOW,E. 

REV.  ABRAHAM  D.  MERRILL. 

REV.  DANIEL  LEACH, 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
REV.  SAMUEL  TOBEY,  .       .   "   . 
REV.  THOMAS  ANDROS,     . 


Page 

1—2 

8—24 


25—40 
40—43 
43—45 

45—48 


40—63 
63—70 
70—71 
71—73 . 


74—89 
89-90 
90—91 
92—94 
94—96 


97—108 
108—112 
112—117 
117—120 


121—145 


146—159 
159—163 
163- -1(56 
167—169 


170—175 
176—103 


IV 


CONTENTS   OF  VOLUME   II. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
REV.  HENRY  A.  BOAKDMAN, 

CHAPTER  X. 
REV.  ANDREW  L.  STONE, 
REV.  CHARLES  G.  FINNEY, 
REV.  JONATHAN  FRENCH, 

CHAPTER  XI. 
REV.  JOSEPH  S.  CLARK. 
REV.  ELIAS  R.  BEADLE, 


CHAPTER  XII. 
REV.  ROLLIN  IlEBER  XEALE,   . 
REV.  JACOB  IDE,  .... 

REV.  DORUS  CLARKE, 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

REV.  WILLIAM  HAGUE, 
REV.  THOMAS  WILLIAMS. 
REV.  GEORGE  PUNCHARD,   . 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
REV.  ROBERT  C.  WATERSTON, 
ELDER  JACOB  KNAPP, 
REV.  EDWARD  T.  TAYLOR. 


194—217 

217—225 
225—238 
238—245 


246—258 
258—264 


265—274 
274—285 
285—291 


291—301 
301—306 
306— 314 


315—325 
325—332 
332—337 


PART  II.  —  PHYSICIANS. 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Dr.  TIMOTHY  GORDON,          . 
Dr.  GEORGE  CHANDLER, 

Dr.  ALBERT  DAY, 

Dr.  L.  FOSTER.  

Dr.  JOEL  BROWN, 

Dr.  EBENEZER  DA  WES, 


338—342 
342—346 
346—352 
352—353 
354—355 
355—360 


PART  III. —  BUSINESS  MEN. 
CHAPTER  XVI. 


JOHN  S.  PAINE,     . 
LEWIS  JONES,     . 
WILLIAM  MASON, 
THOMAS  WHITE, 
HON.  WILLIAM  B.  SPOONER, 
FRANKLIN  SMITH, 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


GEORGE  B.  EMERSON, 


361—363 
363-366 
367—371 
371—381 
381-583 
384 

385-398 


PREFACE. 


I  DO  NOT  LIKE  PREFACES  much,  and  abhor  long 
ones  ;  nevertheless,  I  may  say  a  word  by  way  of  in- 
troducing this,  the  Second  Volume  of  my  Lives,  or 
Biographical  Sketches.  I  have  prepared  these  Vol- 
umes, hoping  to  render  some  service  to  the  present 
and  coming  generations.  I  find  the  following  in  a 
biographical  sketch  which  is  so  exactly  to  my  point 
that  I  quote  it. 

"The  living  may  be  benefitted  by  the  dead.  A 
knowledge  of  the  histories  of  those  whom  God  has 
raised  up  to  serve  him  on  earth,  perpetuates  their  in- 
fluence. It  brings  instruction  and  furnishes  mate- 
rial for  improvement.  To  review  their  lives  is  like 
looking  into  a  glass.  It  shows  us,  in  varying  cir- 
cumstances, the  workings  of  minds  and  hearts  like 
our  own.  If  unfolds,  also,  the  dealings  of  God  with 
those  who  have  gone  before  us, — how  he  has  in- 
structed, disciplined  and  guided  them  ;  and  tends  to 
strengthen  faith,  encourage  hope  and  excite  to  activ- 
ity by  presenting  various  instances  of  God's  kind- 
ness, faithfulness  and  care." 


2  PKEFACE. 

Volume  I.  contains  Sketches  of  the  lives  of  several 
statesmen,  teachers,  presidents  of  colleges  and  min- 
isters of  the  Gospel.  Volume  II.  will  be  chiefly  con- 
fined to  clergymen.  But  for  variety's  sake  it  will 
contain  a  few  names  of  eminent  physicians  and  prom- 
inent business  men. 

I  cannot  but  express  my  gratitude  to  our  Heaven- 
ly Father  that  I  have  been  spared  to  publish  the  first 
volume  of  this  work,  and  now  to  have  completed 
this  second  one,  in  which  I  have  been  enabled  to  com- 
memorate the  virtues  of  my  fathers  and  brethren  in 
the  ministry.  It  is  also  a  pleasure  to  me  to  be  able 
to  say  that  with  everyone  hereinafter  noticed  I  have 
been  more  or  less  personally  acquainted  except  one, 
namely,  Rev.  Samuel  Tobey,  the  first  minister  of  my 
native  town,  great-grandfather  of  our  worthy  post- 
master Hon.  E.  S.  Tobey.  THE  AUTHOR. 


CHAPTER  I. 


REVEREND  LYMAN  BEECHER,   D.  D. 
CONGREGATIONALISM 


PASSING  by  the  ancestral  descent,  the  peculiar 
eccentricities,  the  adventurous  enterprises,  the  won- 
derful exploits,  the  HAIR  BREADTH  ESCAPES, 
and  all  their  daring  schemes,  of  the  Beecher  family, 
1  wish  to  give  a  plain  unvarnished  sketch  of  the  first 
Beecher  I  ever  knew,  viz.,  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher.  I 
am  fully  aware  that  I  could  amuse  my  readers  with 
many  tales  of  the  Beechers,  that  I  would  perhaps 
give  eclat  to  my  book  and  make  it  sell,  for  nothing 
so  suits  the  people  as  quack  medicine,  and  nothing 
so  feeds  and  pleases  the  public  like  marvellous  stories 
and  "twice  told  tales"  and  a  volume  of  these  might 
easily  be  told  of  the  Beechers, — -such  as  the  express- 
ion, "there  are  three  kinds  of  people  in  the  world, 
the  good,  bad,  and  the  Beecher  family." 

Lyman  Beecher  was  born  in  Guilford,  Conn.,  Oct. 
12  th.  1775  ;  and  my  readers  will  not  concern  them- 
selves to  inquire  whether  most  of  the  people  in  that 
quaint  old  town  were  then  called  "Mr.  or  Mrs.,  or 
yoeman,  or  goodman,  or  goodwife,  or  goody- 
man,  whether  Joseph  Pynchen  was  a  wealthy  farm- 


4  BEY.   LYMAN  BEEOHEB,   D.    D. 

er,  or  his  son  a  physician."  Suffice  it  to  say,  Lyman 
Beecher  was  born  then  and  there,  and  being  a  seven 
months'  child,  was  laid  away  for  dead.  But  after  a 
while  one  of  the  women  thought  she  would  see  if  he 
were  alive,  and  finding  he  was,  concluded  to  wash 
and  dress  him,  but  saying  at  the  same  time,  "it  is  a 
pity  he  ha'nt  died  with  his  mother." 

When  he  was  old  enough  he  went  to  school,  very 
much  as  other  New  England  boys  did,  and  learned 
his  letters  out  of  Dilworth's  spelling  book,  and  his 
Arithmetic  from  Dabol's,  the  Cooper's  Arithmetic,  as 
the  writer  did.  In  the  family  they  had  about  the 
same  books  that  other  old  Puritan  households  had, 
namely,  "the  Bible,  the  Catechism,  the  Psalter,  Rob- 
inson Crusoe  and  Goody  Two  Shoes." 

He  entered  Yale  College  in  1793.  He  says,  "  father 
was  then  living  with  his  fifth  wife.  The  college 
was  in  a  most  ungodly  state.  Dr.  Stiles  was  presi- 
dent. In  May,  1794,  President  Styles  died,  and  Dr. 
Dwight  became  president  at  the  next  commence- 
ment." 

Lyman  Beecher  did'nt  study  much  in  college.  He 
had  no  part  when  his  class  graduated  and  he  says, 
"of  mathematics  I  knew  nothing,"  so  that  it  may 
almost  be  said  of  him,  as  President  Dwight  said  ol 
Dr.  Nettleton,  "the  man  of  whom  we  expected  the 
least  while  in  College  has  done  the  most  for  Christ's 
Knigdom." 

He  studied  theology  with  President  Dwight,  was 
ordained  and  installed  Pastor  of  the  Church  in  Ea0t 


BEV.  LTMAN  BEECHER,  D.  D.          5 

Hampton,  L.  L,  Sept.  5th,  1799,  and  married  Miss 
Rosanna  Chittenden,  to  whom  he  had  been  engaged 
two  years,  the  19th,  of  the  same  month  by  Parson 
Bray. 

Almost  immediately  after  his  marriage,  he  says  "a 
revival  began  like  a  flash  of  lightning  and  ended  like 
a  flash  of  lightning.  News  came  to  me  that  two  of 
Deacon  Shirrell's  sons  were  under  conviction.  Oh  ! 
how  I  went  down  there  !  Whether  walking,  or  flying 
or  on  tiptoe,  I  did'nt  know.  When  I  got  into  the 
deacon's  seat,  Oh !  how  I  preached !  I  spilled  over. 
All  the  old  folks  waked  up."  He  adds,  "there  was 
not  a  stove  in  the  town,  nor  a  carpet.  All  had  sand- 
ed floors,  in  some  places  worn  through.  My  wife  in- 
troduced the  first  carpet.  I  had  the  first  orchard  in 
the  town,  and  when  the  people  saw  me  setting  out 
trees,  they  laughed  at  me  and  said  fruit  would  not 
grow  so  near  the  salt  water." 

When  he  had  been  five  years  at  East  Hampton,  he 
had  four  children,  Catherine,  William,  Edward  and 
Mary.  As  his  salary  was  small  he  opened  a  school 
and  his  wife  taught  it  chiefly.  He  says  "it  was  prof- 
itable." 

The  first  sermon  he  published  was  a  history  of 
East  Hampton,  in  1806.  The  second  sermon  on 
"Duelling"  brought  out  Lyman  Beecher.  Aaron 
Burr  had  killed  Alexander  Hamilton  under  as  cruel 
and  deceitful  a  pretense  as  Joab  did  Abner.  The 
whole  country  was  aroused  ;  but  nobody  appears  to 
have  preached  about  it  but  Lynian  lB.ee.cher,  then 


6  REV.    LYMAN  BEEOHEB,    D.    D. 

about  thirty  years  old.  In  answer  to  the  question, 
What  led  you  to •  preach  on  duelling?  Dr.  Beecher 
says,  "Why,  Aaron  Burr  fought  a  duel  with  Alex- 
ander Hamilton^  and  killed  him.  There  never  was 
such  a  sensation  as  that  produced  thl*ough  the  whole 
country.  When  I  read  about  it  invthe  paper j  a  feel- 
ing of  indignation  wras  roused  within  me, -I  kept 
thinking  and  thinking,  and  my  indignation  did'iiot  go 
to  sleep.  It  kept  working  and  working  and  finally 
I  began  to  write;  No  human  being  knew  what  I  was 
thinking  and  feeling,  nor  had  any  agency  -in  setting 
me  at  work.  It  was  the  duel  and  myself 'and  God, 
that  produced  that  sermon. 

I  worked  at  it,  oft'  and  on,  for  six  months,  and 
when  it  was  'done,  without  consultation  or  advice  I 
preached  it  to  my  own  people,  and  in  obscure  villa- 
ges on  the  north  side  of  the  island,  to  see  how  it 
would  sound.  Finally  I  preached  it  before  the  Pres- 
bytery at  Aguebogne,  April  16,  1806.  .  - 

The  brethren  all  stared  that  I  should  venture  on 
such  a  subject  in  such  a  place,  but  they  eulogized  it 
in  discussion,  and  thought  it  should  be  printed. 

So  I  fell  to  work  fitting  it  for  the  press.  But  after 
all  it  came  very  nigh  not  being  printed,  for  wanting 
some  one  to  criticise  it,  and  having  no  literary  man 
in  my  congregation  but  John  Lyon  Gardiner,  I  sent 
it  over  to  Gardiner's  Island,  for  him  to  read  and  crit- 
icise. A  fortnight  after  I  went  over.  When  I  went 
into  the  house  and  came  up  to  the  fire,  I  met  Mrs. 
Gardiner ;  her  husband  was  away. 


REV.    LYMAN   BEECHER,    D.    D.  7 

"Have  you  found  your  sermon  ?  said  she.  ,  "Found 
it  I"  said  I,  thunder-struck  at  the  question ;  "I  did 
not  know  it  had  been  lost."  "No  !"  said  she  ;  "but  it 
is  though."  And  then  she  told  me  that  her  brother 
John  had  been  over  about  a  week  ago,  and  they  sent 
it  by  him ;  but  he  gave  it  to  a  neighbor  to  take  over 
who  put  it  into  his  pea-jacket  pocket. 

In  the  middle  of  the  day,  being  warm  with  rowing 
he  threw  off  his  coat,  and  the  sermon  fell  into  the 
water.  He  heard  something  splash  as  he  afterward 
recollected,  but  did  not  notice  it  at  the  time. 

So  there  I  was.  I  supposed  all  was  gone.  I  had 
all  my  rough  sheets,  and  should  have  tried  to  regain 
it,  but  it  was  a  doleful  prospect,  after  working  over 
it  so  long,  and  reading  all  the  finishing-off  to  Ros- 
anna  and  Esther,  and  Mary  Hubbard. 

I  went  to  Gardiner's  hands — he  had  some  five  hun- 
dred acres  of  the  island  farm,  and  thirty  or  forty  men, 
and  engaged  them  to  watch  the  beach,  and  see  if  any- 
thing came  ashore,  offering  five  dollars  to  the  one 
that  found  it. 

One  day,  a  month  after,  I  was  at  home  cutting 
wood,  when  I  spied  a  fellow  running  toward  me, 
swinging  something  in  the  air,  and  grinning  so  that 
I  could  see  his  teeth,  fifteen  rods  off.  There  was  my 
sermon,  like  Moses  in  the  bulrushes.  They  had 
wrapped  it  in  paper,  and  wound  it  round  with  yarn 
so  closely  that  it  was  dry  inside.  As  Providence  had 
ordered  it,  a  heavy  storm  and  high  tide  had  set  in  the 
same  night  when  it  was  lost,  and  lodged  it,  high  and 


8  REV.   LTMAN  BEEOHEE,   D.   D. 

dry,  about  a  hundred  rods  from  our  landing-place, 
above  high-water  mark.  So  I  had  it  printed.  Still 
it  seemed  destined  to  speedy  oblivion.  Its  circula- 
tion was  at  first  local,  on  the  mere  extremity  of  Long 
Island.  Besides  some  of  my  people  were  Democrats, 
and  fearing  it  might  injure  their  political  idols ;  for 
these  were  days  when  Democracy  was  swelling  high- 
er, and  beating  more  and  more  fiercely  on  old  Feder- 
alism and  the  standing  order.  And  my  publisher 
was  a  man  of  little  capital.  However  some  copies 
strayed  to  New  York." 

I  have  made  this  long  quotation  because  this  ser- 
mon on  duelling,  or  the  few  which  strayed  to  New 
York  brought  Dr.  Beecher  into  the  notice  of  his 
brethren,  and  put  him  upon  the  race-course,  which 
took  him  from  East  Hampton  to  Litchfield,  from 
Litchfield  to  Boston,  and  from  Boston  to  Lane  Sem- 
inary, Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

One  or  two  anecdotes  may  be  told  of  him  while  at 
East  Hampton. 

He  had  some  pleasant  rencounters  on  account  of 
his  Episcopal  connections.  Though  the  old  clergy- 
man of  Guilford,  where  they  attended  church,  was 
one  of  the  dullest ;  this  in  no  wise  abated  their  eccle- 
siastical pretensions.  Just  after  his  marriage,  pass- 
ing a  field  where  the  quizzical  old  uncle,  who  had 
brought  him  up,  was  mowing,  he  heard  him  calling 
out. 

"Halloo,  youngster  !  they  say  you  have  no  right  to 
preach ;  you  have  never  been  ordained."  "Got  a 


REV.    LYl^AN  BEEOHER,    D.    D.  9 

good  scythe  there ,  uuclo  Lot  ?"  "First  rate . "  "Who 
made  it  ?"  "Dun'no  ;  bought  it  over  to  the  store-"1 
"And  if  you  had  another  that  was  made  by  a  black- 
smith who  you  supposed  could  trace  his  authority  for 
making  scythes  all  the  way  up  to  St.  Peter,  and  yet 
the  scythe  would'nt  cut  any  more  than  a  sheet  of  lead, 
which  would  you  take  to  mow  with?"  "Go  'long 
you  rogue,  ho  !  ho  !  ho  !" 

Another  incident  of  his  East  Hampton  life  is  the 
following  : — Riding  on  horseback  from  Southampton 
homeward!  °ue  evening,  with  a  heavy  folio,  which  he 
had  just  bon'owed,  under  his  arm,  he  saw  what  he 
supposed  to  be  .&  rabbit  run  across  the  path  and  stop 
by  the  roadside.  It  was  moonlight  and  he  could  not 
see  very  distinctly,  >ut  he  thought  to  himself,  "I'll 
have  a  shot  at  you  an>:QOW-"  So»  when  he  came 
alongside  the  supposed  rab^t,  he  poised  the  ponder- 
ous folio  and  hurled  it  at  the  ^ark>  receiving  in  re- 
turn a  point-blank  shot  of  an  unmiivtakeable  character 
which  required  him  to  bury  his  clothes,  folio,  and  ev- 
erything about  him  in  the  earth,  in  order  .t°  become 
presentable.  In  after  life,  being  asked  why  u£  did 
not  reply  to  a  certain  Mr. — ,  who  was  abusing  him 
through  the  press,  he  replied  "I  threw  a  book  at  a 
skunk  once  and  he  had  the  best  of  it.  I  made  up 
my  mind  never  to  try  it  again."  He  was  first  settled 
upon  a  salary  of  three  hundred  dollars,  and  his  fire- 
wood, which  was  afterward  raised  to  four  hundred 
dollars.  Finding  this  too  small  to  support  his  grow- 
ing family,  in  1809  he  received  a  unanimous  call  from, 


10  REV.   LYMAN  BEECHER,    D.    D. 

Litchfield,  Conn.,  which  he  accepted  on  a  salary  of 
eight  hundred  dollars.  He  says,  "when  I  started 
to  go  to  East  Hampton,  I  had  but  one  little  trunk, 
and  when  I  removed  to  Litchfield  I  had  four  loads. 

He  wag  installed  at  Litchfield,  May  29th,  1810. 

Catherine  Beeeher  wrote,  "the  first  five  years  of 
father's  Litchfield  ministry  were,  I  think,  properly  a 
period  of  more  unalloyed  happiness  than  any  in  his 
whole  life. 

Litchfield  was  first  settled  in  1720,,  and  in  1723, 
when  there  were  but  sixty  (male)  .inhabitants,  the 
first  Church  edifice  was  built,  together  with  a  "Sab- 
bath day  housa,..a  kind  of  vestry  for  the  purposes  of 
warming  and  refreshment,  no  fires  being  alloAved  in 
the  church." 

In  1777  Gen.  Washington,  passing  through  Litch- 
field with  his  staff,  attended  worship  in  the  old  meet- 
ing-house on  the  village  green.  The  country  was 
alarmed  by  the  intelligence  that  Cornwallis  was  ap- 
proaching the  coast  with  a  large  fleet,  Itev.  Judah 
Champion,  the  pastor,  an  nble  and  eloquent  man,  is 
said  to  have  uttered  the  following  prayer  : 

"O  Lord,  we  view  Avith  terror  the  approach  of  the 
enemies  of  Thy  holy  religion.  Wilt  Thou  send 
storm  and  tempest  to  toss  them  upon  the  sea,  and  to 
overwhelm  them  upon  the  mighty  deep,  or  to  scatter 
them  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.  But,  per- 
adventure  any  should  escape  Thy  vengeance,  collect 
them  together  again  as  in  the  hollow  of  Thy  hand, 
and  let  Thy  lightnings  play  upon  them.  We  do  be- 


BEY.   LTMAN  BEEOHER,   D.   D.  11 

seech  Thee,  moreover,  that  Thou  do  gird  up  the 
loins  of  these  Thy  servants  who  are  going  forth  to 
fight  Thy  battles.  Make  them  strong  men,  that  'one 
shall  chase  a  thousand,  and  two  put  ten  thousand  to 
flight. '  Hold  before  them  the  shield  with  which  Thou 
wast  wont  in  the  old  time  to  protect  Thy  chosen 
people.  Give  them  swift  feet  that  they  may  pur- 
sue their  enemies,  and  swords  terrible  as  that  of  Thy 
destroying  angel,  that  they  may  cleave  them  down. 
Preserve  these  servants  of  Thine,  Almighty  God ! 
and  bring  the  m  once  more  to  their  homes  and  friends 
if  Thou  canst  do  it  consistently  with  Thy  high  pur- 
poses. If,  on  the  other  hand,  Thou  hast  decreed 
that  they  shall  die  in  battle,  let  Thy  Spirit  be  pres- 
ent with  them,  and  breathe  upon  them,  that  they 
may  go  up  as  a  sweet  sacrifice  into  the  courts  of  Thy 
Temple,  where  are  habitations  prepared  for  them 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world." 

Dr.  Beecher's  wife  died,  Sept.  25th,  1816.  He 
married  Harriet  Porter  in  Nov.  1817.  The  cere- 
mony was  performed  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Payson,  of 
Portland. 

Mr.  Beecher  says — "From  Portland  we  went 
round  visiting  among  her  cousins  and  friends  where 
they  were  within  reach.  We  spent  a  week  or  more 
in  Boston,  and  then  set  out  for  home.  The  whole 
journey  was  made  in  the  old  family  chaise. 

"Her  things  were  put  up  in  an  immense,  great 
trunk,  covered  with  yellow  leather,  and  sent  round 
by  water  to  New  Haven.  Aunt  Holmes  fitted  fr 


12  REV.    LYMAN   BEECHEB,    D.    D. 

out.  But  winter  came  on  and  the  vessel  was  frozen 
up,  so  that  we  did  not  get  the  trunk  till  spring. 
She  had  to  patch  up  for  winter." 

Dr.  Beecher  removed  to  Boston  in  March,  1826. 

He  says — "But,  though  my  ministry  calls  out  Unit- 
arians of  distinction,  it  is  not  on  this  kind  of  celebri- 
ty that  I  chiefly  rely.  It  is  indeed,  desirable  to  be  able 
to  create  a  curiosity  among  intelligent  men  to  come 
and  hear  the  truth,  because  it  enables  us  to  become 
the  expounders  of  our  own  doctrines,  and  to  wipe 
away  aspersion  and  prejudice,  and  some  arrows  may 
hit  and  stick,  even  in  high  places.  But,  after  all, 
the  kingdom  of  God  cometh  not  with  observation  ; 
and  I  rely  more  on  my  vestry  meetings,  on  Sabbath 
and  Tuesday  eve,  and  on  my  chapel  meetings,  on 
Friday  eve  at  the  North,  and  on  my  visits  and  labors 
among  the  middle  class  and  poor,  than  upon  all  the 
eclat  of  reputed  talents  and  eloquence,  and  all  the 
running  to  hear,  and  all  the  movements  and  talk  from 
this  source  among  the  mighty  and  the  noble.  My 
plan  is  to  retire  and  go  to  work  silently,  until  the  re- 
sults shall  tell  in  'souls  renewed  and  sins  forgiven.' 
You  will  not  fail  to  pray  for  me,  that  my  health  and 
faith  fail  not,  as  1  shall  not  cease  to  give  thanks  that 
I  have  so  many  and  so  dear  children  to  care  for,  and 
co-operate  with  me  in  promoting  the  religion  of 
Jesus  Christ. 

We  have  taken  the  house  at  the  North  End — new, 
airy,  and  delightful  within  (No.  18  Sheafe  St.), 


REV.    LYMAN  BEECHER,   D,    t>.  13 

though  surrounded  by  dreary  roads  to  get  to  it. 
Cannot  have  everything  in  one  place." 

Dr.  Beecher  gives  the  following  account  of  the 
commencement  of  his  ministry  in  Boston. — "When  I 
began  among  them  they  were  pleased  and  more  than 
pleased.  I  remember,  one  Sabbath,  Anderson  came 
smiling  after  sermon,  and  said  with  emotion,  'you 
will  overset  us  if  you  are  going  to  preach  at  this 
rate  !'  I  shall  never  forget  that.  I  knew  nobody 
then.  I  took  those  subjects  that  were  unquestion- 
able but  solemn,  to  make  them  tell  on  the  conscience. 
I  began  with  prudence,  because  a  minister,  however 
well  known  at  home,  and  however  wise  and  success- 
ful he  has  been,  has  to  make  himself  a  character 
anew,  and  find  out  what  material  is  around  him. 

They  had  a  church  prayer  meeting,  which  they 
conducted  themselves.  I  told  them  they  had  been 
able  to  go  alone,  and  take  care  of  the  church  busi- 
ness, and  I  had  tried  everywhere  to  make  the  church 
do  something  in  the  prayer  meeting,  and  it  was  the 
hardest  thing  I  ever  tried  ;  if  1  went  others  would  go, 
and  if  not,  I  never  could  make  the  weekly  prayer 
meeting  succeed.  Hence  I  told  them  that  they 
must  take  it,  and  sustain  it.  That  went  through. 
Oh,  how  well  it  went  I  T'was  the  best  church  I 
ever  saw. 

From  the  beginning,  my  preaching  was  attended 
with  interest.  I  could  take  hold.  There  was 
very  earnest  hearing  in  the  congregation.  I  saw  it 
was  taking  hold.  Deep  solemnity,  not  mere  novelty. 


14  RET.    LYMAN  BEEOHER,   b.    t). 

I  felt  in  ray  own  soul  that  the  word  went  forth  with 
power.  It  was  a  happy  season,  hopeful  and  auspi- 
cious. Not  long  after  Dr.  Chaplin  began  to  attend. 
He  had  been  in  the  habit  of  listening  to  a  dead  fee- 
ble fellow  on  the  wrong  side,  but  who  didn't  do  much 
on  any  side.  Shall  never  forget  how  Chaplin  heard. 
He  was  of  quick,  strong  feeling,  and  was  wide  awake 
to  hearken.  He  made  me  think  of  a  partridge  on  a 
dead  limb,  watching  me,  when  I  was  trying  to  get  a 
shot  at  him.  He  began  to  bring  over  his  family  and 
his  patients  from  Catnbridgeport ;  and  as  the  serious- 
ness increased,  he  came  in  with  three  or  four  car- 
riages— some  thirty  persons— every  Sabbath. 

I  kept  watch  from  the  first  among  my  hearers. 

They  told  me  of  a  young  lady  who  had  been  awak- 
ened. I  found  her  out,  conversed  with  her,  and  she 
was  converted.  The  next  was  Dea.  P — 's  daughter, 
and  they  kept  dropping  in.  I  tell  this  that  you  may 
know  how  to  begin  a  revival.  I  always  took  it  by 
word  of  mouth,  first  talking  with  single  cases,  and 
praying  with  them.  Went  on  so  till  I  found  twelve, 
by  watching  and  picking  them  out.  I  visited  them, 
and  explained  what  an  inquiry  meeting  was  and  en- 
gaged them,  if  one  was  appointed,  to  agree  to 
come.  I  never  would  risk  a  blank  attempt. 

I  began,  early  in  this  course,  to  intimate  to  the 
church  the  probability  of  more  interest.  I  grew  in 
importunity,  and  roused  the  church  to  take  hold. 
At  that  time  many  ministers  did  not  understand 
about  this,  J  began  to  say  to  the  church,  1  think 


REV.    LYMAN   BEECHEK,    D.    D.  15 

there  is  a  work  begun.  Fire  in  the  leaves — not  only 
among  us,  but  in  the  community.'  I  made  no  at- 
tack on  Unitarians.  I  carried  the  state  of  warm  re- 
vival feeling  I  had  had  in  Litchfield  for  years.  I 
carried  it  in  my  heart  still  with  great  success.  They 
came  to  hear ;  there  was  a  great  deal  of  talk  about 
me — great  curiosity.  They  would  hear,  and  then 
run  me  down, — they  would  never  go  again.  But 
they  did  come  again,  till  they  were  snared  and  taken, 
many  that  came  to  scoff,  remained  to  pray. 

"Finally  my  soul  rose  to  it,  and  I  preached  to  the 
church  one  afternoon,  explained  to  them  the  state  of 
interest  and  opposition,  and  what  an  inquiry  meeting 
was,  and  that  they  must  be  ready,  and  give  out  an 
invitation  to  a  long  list  of  persons  who  I  described. 
There  were  fifteen  persons  the  first  week,  twenty  the 
second,  thirty-five  the  third,  and  the  fourth  time  three 
hundred.  The  vestry  was  filled.  Lambert  met  me 
at  the  door,  when  I  came  to  meeting,  with  his  eyes 
staring ; 

"It's  a  mistake  ;  they've  misunderstood,  and  think 
it's  a  lecture.  You  must  explain."  "No,"  said  I, 
"it's  not  a  mistake  ;  it's  the  finger  of  God  !"  But  I 
made  an  explanation  and  only  one  person  left. 

I  parceled  out  the  room  to  ten  individuals,  to  see 
every  person,  and  make  inquiries  of  their  state,  and 
bring  back  to  me  the  report.  (Oh!  that  was  glori- 
ous !  It  lasted  all  that  winter.)  They  brought  back 
reports  of  awakenings  and  conversions.  I  talked 
with  forty  or  fifty  myself:  and  if  there  were  special 


16  REV.    LYMAN  BEEOHER,    D.    D. 

cases,  I  went  and  visited.  I  said  just  a  word,  or  a 
few — not  many.  I  struck  just  according  to  charac- 
ter and  state. 

It  was  really  almost  amusing  to  see  the  rapid  changes 
in  language  and  manner,  I  underwent  as  I  passed 
one  class  to  another.  A  large  portion  on  being  ques- 
tioned would  reveal  their  state  of  mind  easily,  and  be- 
ing plain  cases,  would  need  only  plain  instruction. 
They  believed  the  Bible,  and  they  believed  what  I 
told  them  as  if  it  was  the  Bible — as  it  was ;  and 
therefore  the  truth  was  made  effectual  by  the  Holy 
Spirit  as  well  as  if  more  conversation  was  had." 

Dr.  Beecher  had  always  been  engaged  in  revivals 
in  Connecticut,  and  we  see  in  the  above  quotation,  he 
brought  the  revival  spirit  with  him  to  Boston. 

Dr.  Beecher  had  preached  in  East  Hampton,  and 
also  in  Litchfield,  upon  intemperance.  So  after  he 
was  located  in  Boston,  he  revised  the  six  sermons  upon 
this  subject  and  preached  them  to  his  own  people 
here.  Nothing  that  he  had  ever  done  produced  such 
an  excitement  as  did  these  sermons.  Though  Dr. 
Beecher  was  careful  to  say  in  these  sermons,  "we 
must  not  come  down  in  wrath  upon  distillers,  import- 
ers, and  venders  of  ardent  spirits  as  none  of  us  are 
enough  without  sin  to  cast  the  first  stone,"  yet  the  ef- 
fect of  their  delivery  was  to  aronse  against  him,  feel- 
ings of  strong  opposition.  It  was  reported  that  he 
drank  himself,  and  that  when  he  went  after  it,  he  car- 
ried his  oil  can  in  which  to  get  it.  This  story,  absurd 
as  it  was,  was  believed  by  thousands ;  and  I  well  re- 


BEV.    LYMAN  BEECH ER,   D.   D.  17 

member,  when  if  a  man  was  seen  carrying  a  jug  or 
a  can  in  the  street,  the  common  salutation  was,  "Oh  ! 
you  are  going  after  Beecher's  oil,  are  you." 

Dr.  Beecher  had  so  many  peculiarities  that  his 
church  once  sent  a  committee  to  converse  with  him 
in  reference  to  them.  "  From  the  mouth  of  one  of  the 
committee,  I  had  the  following  account  of  this  inter- 
esting interview  ;  the  result  of  which  was  very  favor- 
able to  his  religion,  and  his  course  of  proceeding  may 
be  well  imitated  by  others.  "We  made  known  the 
object  of  our  visit ;  when  Dr.  Beecher  said,  his  face 
smiling  all  over ;  "brethren,  I  am  glad  to  see  you : 
and  now,  what  is  the  matter?"  We  said,  "Dr.  Beech- 
er, we  are  requested  to  speak  with  you  about  some 
little  foibles  of  etiquette,  but  have  no  charges  to  bring 
against  you.  It  offends  some  of  the  brethren,  that 
when  you  get  within  the  doors  of  the  church,  you  run 
till  you  get  into  the  pulpit,  and,  when  you  are  preach- 
ing, you  pound  the  cushion  very  hard ;  and,  some- 
times, in  the  street,  you  scarcely  appear  as  we  would 
like  to  see  our  Pastor." 

The  Doctor,  still  smiling,  said,  "Well,  brethren, 
I  am  glad  to  hear  these  remarks.  I  know  I  am  dif- 
ferent from  most  men  ;  but  I  was  not  aware  that  I  ran 
into  the  pulpit.  I  am  always  glad  when  I  get  there  ; 
and,  if  it  will  please  the  people  any  better,  I  will  try 
to  walk ;  and  I  think  I  shall  succeed.  Well,  as  to 
pounding  the  cushion,  my  ancestors  were  blacksmiths, 
and  I  was  brought  up  a  farmer.  It  may  be,  that  I 
have  acquired  the  habit  of  striking  hard  blows  by  he- 


18  REV.    LYMAN   BEECHER,    D.    D. 

reditary  descent,  or  by  laboring  when  young ;  but  if 
it  will  please  the  people  any  better  not  to  pound  so 
hard,  I  will  try,  and  I  think,  I  shall  improve.  As  to 
the  appearance  in  the  street,  sometimes  I  am  in  haste 
to  catch  a  baker  or  a  tishman,  and  I  didn't  have  time 
to  dress  up ;  and  I  will  try  to  improve  in  this  mat- 
ter." The  committee-man  added  :  "We  came  away 
very  much  pleased,  but  not  a  little  chagrined  that  we 
went  upon  such  an  errand.  The  Doctor  was  so  cor- 
dial, so  pleasant,  and  so  Christian  that  he  afterwards 
became  doubly  endeared  to  us." 

Mr.  Arthur  Tappen  of  New  York  promised  to  give 
twenty  thousand  dollars  to  Lane  Seminary  provided 
Dr.  Beecher  would  remove  to  Cincinnati  and  take 
charge  of  the  institution. 

"The  board  assembled  October  22nd,  1830,  and 
unanimously  elected  Dr.  Beecher,  President  and 
Professor  of  Theology  of  the  Lane  Seminary.  The 
following  extract  from  the  letter  of  the  corresponding 
secretary,  Dr.  James  Warren,  in  which  he  communi- 
cated to  the  agent  the  action  of  the  board,  will  .show 
the  state  of  feeling  at  that  time  :  Your  success  was 
entirely  unexpected,  and  it  gave  a  thrill  to  the  soul  of 
every  member  of  the  board,  and  others  whom  I  have 
seen  are  rejoicing  with  tears  in  their  eyes.  Is  it  pos- 
sible, say  they,  that  this  western  world  is  to  be  blessed 
with  the  presence  of  Dr.  Beecher?  And  we  give 
thanks  to  the  Lord  that  he  has  made  you  the  honored 
instrument  of  conferring  so  great  a  blessing  upon  us. 


REV.    LYMAN  BEEOHER,    D.    D.  19 

The  resolution  was  passed  with  reverential  silence ; 
not  a  word  was  spoken  but  'Aye.'" 

"Early  in  1831,"  remarks  Dr.  Allen,  "solicitude  be- 
gan to  be  felt  lest  Dr.  Beecher  might  not  obtain  the 
consent  of  his  people  to  his  leaving  them,  and  Dr. 
Hilson,  Rev.  Messrs.  Vail  and  Gallaherwere  appoint- 
ed a  committee  to  correspond  with  them  on  the  sub- 
ject. 

From  this  letter  addressed  "To  the  Hanover  Church 
.and  Congregation  of  Boston,"  we  select  the  follow- 
ing :  —  :  *  *  *  Having  presented  this  general 
view  of  the  character,  claims,  and  prospects  of  our 
seminary,  permit  us,  dear  brethren  and  friends,  to 
specify  a  few  of  the  particular  reasons  why  we  believe 
Dr.  Beecher  is  called  by  divine  Providence  to  this  in- 
stitution. 

"  The  strong  conviction  of  many  of  our  wisest  and 
best  men,  east  and  west  of  the  mountains  is,  that  the 
great  interests  of  the  church  and  especially  of  .the  west, 
require  Dr.  Beecher's  labors  at  the  head  of  our  semi- 
nary. A  large  number  of  our  ministerial  and  lay 
brethren  have  expressed  their  deliberate  conviction, 
that  the  enterprise  of  building  up  a  great  central  the- 
ological seminary  at  Cincinnati,  soon  to  become  the 
great  Andover  or  Princeton  of  the  West,  and  to  give 
character  to  hundreds  and  thousands  of  ministers 
which  may  issue  from  it,  is  one  of  the  most  important 
and  responsible  in  which  the  church  is  ever  called  to 
engage  ;  and  that  no  man  in  our  country,  in  many  im- 
portant respects,  is  so  well  fitted  to  give  character, 


20  BEV.   LYMAN  BEEOHER,   D.   D. 

energy  and  success  to  such  an  institution  as  Dr. 
Beecher." 

I  pass  over  the  trial  in  Cincinnati  between  Dr. 
Beecher  and  Dr.  Wilson,  as  one  of  those  items  which 
the  sooner  it  is  forgotten  the  better  for  Christianity 
and  the  world. 

When,  in  the  decline  of  life,  the  mind  of  this  great 
man  failed  faster  than  his  body,  there  were  occasion- 
ally bright  flashes,  like  the  blaizng  of  the  embers,  or 
a  candle-wick  before  it  expires,  it  is  worth  while  to 
note  a  few  of  them. 

In  1859,  speaking  of  his  first  wife,  he  said  ,ftl  never 
in  any  instance]  had  but  one  trouble  with  her,  and 
then  it  was  but  a  word,  quickly  repented  of,  and  as 
quickly  forgiven. 

I  went  out  one  morning  in  East  Hampton  to  feed 
the  hogs  and  somehow  they  vexed  me.  I  caught  up 
the  handiest  thing,  and  was  thrashing  them,  when  she 
came  to  the  door  and  said,  "Lyman,  don't!  don't!" 
I  said  something  sharply,  and  she  turned  to  go  in. 
But  oh  !  I  had  not  time  enough  to  get  to  the  door  and 
to  say,  'I  am  ashamed  ;  I  am  sorry,'  when  one  of  the 
sweetest  smiles  shone  out  on  her  face,  and  that  smile 
has  never  died  and  never  will.  I  was  forgiven,  you 
may  guess.  There  was  another  smile  I  have  never 
lost.  It  was  when  she  was  leaving  me.  We  supposed 
she  was  gone,  and  I  had  left  the  bedside,,  when  a 
friend  said,  'Lyman,  she  is  reviving.'  She  opened 
her  eyes  and  smiled,  and  passed  away. 

Dr,  Beecher  died  January  10th,  1863,  in  his  eighty- 


REV.    LYMAN  BEEOHEB,   D.    D.  21 

eighth  year.     His  last  mute  response  to  his  wife  was — 

"Jesus,  Lover  of  my  Soul, 
Let  rue  to  Thy  bosom  fly." 

A  volume  might  be  filled  with  apochryphal  anec- 
dotes of  Dr.  Beecher  ;  but  I  choose  to  close  this  sketch 
with  some  which  are  well  authenticated.  The  doctor 
depended  on  constant  manual  labor,  for  keeping  up  his 
health  ;  and  in  Boston,  where  he  could  not  enjoy  the 
luxury  of  a  garden  to  dig  in,  he  was  often  puzzled  to 
find  means  to  keep  himself  in  good  working  order.  The 
consequence  was  that  he  sawed  wood.  The  conse- 
quence was  that  he  sawed  all  the  wood  for  his  own 
large  family,  and  often  finding  that  too  little,  would 
beg  the  privilege  of  sawing  at  the  wood-pile  of  his 
neighbor. 

He  was  fastidious  in  the  care  of  his  wood-saw  as  a 
musician  in  the  care  of  his  cremona. 

In  fact,  there  was  an  analogy  between  the  two  in- 
struments. In  moods  of  abstraction  more  than  ordi- 
nary, it  was  sometimes  doubtful  which  the  doctor  im- 
agined himself  to  be  doing — filing  his  saw  or  sawing 
his  fiddle.  That  the  old  saw  was  musical  under  his 
hand,  none  could  deny  ;  and  that  he  enjoyed  its  brill- 
iant notes  was  clear  from  the  manner  in  which  he  kept 
the  instrument  always  at  hand  in  his  study,  half  con- 
cealed among  results  of  councils,  reviews,  reports  and 
sermons,  or  even  when  settling  nice  points  of  theol- 
ogy with  his  boys,  or  taking  council  with  brother  min- 
isters. Looking  out  of  his  study  window  one  day, 
when  his  own  wood-pile  was  reduced  to  a  discourag- 


22  REV.    LYMAN  BEEOHEB,   D.    D. 

ing  state  of  order,  every  stick  sawed  and  split,  he  saw 
with  envy  the  pile  of  old  W.— in  the  street.  Forth- 
with he  seized  his  saw,  and  soon  the  old  sawyer  of  the 
street  beheld  a  man,  without  cravat  and  in  his  shirt- 
sleeves, issuing  from  Dr.  Beecher's  house,  who  came 
briskly  up,  and  asked  if  he  wanted  a  hand  at  his  pile  ; 
and  forthwith  fell  to  work  with  a  right  good  will,  and 
soon  proved  to  his  brother  sawyer  that  he  was  no 
mean  hand  at  the  craft. 

Nodding  his  head  significantly  at  the  opposite 
house,  W.  —  said  :  "You  live  there  ?" 

B.     "Yes." 

W.     "  Work  for  the  old  man  ?" 

B.     "Yes." 

W.     "What  sort  of  an  old  fellow  is  he  ?" 

B.  "Oh  !  pretty  much  like  the  rest  of  us.  Good 
man  enough  to  work  for," 

W.     "Tough  old  chap,  ain't  he  ?" 

B.     "Guess  so,  to  them  that  try  to  chaw  him  up." 

So  the  conversation  went  on,  till  the  wood  went  so 
fast  with  the  new-comer  that  W exclaimed. 

"First  rate  saw,  that  of  yourn  !" 

This  touched  the  Doctor  in  a  tender  point.  He  had 
set  that  saw  as  carefully  as  the  articles  of  his  creed  ; 
every  tooth  was  critically  adjusted,  and  so  he  gave  a 

smile  of  triumph.  "I  say,"  said  W ,  "where  can  I 

get  a  saw  like  that  ?" 

B.     "I  dont  know,  unless  you  buy  mine." 

W.     "Will  you  trade  ?    What  do  you  ask  ?" 


REV.    LYMAN   BEECHER,    D.    D.         ,  23 

B.  "I  dont  know.  I'll  think  about  it.  Call  at  the 
house  to-morrow  and  I'll  tell  you." 

The  next  day  the  old  man  knocked,  and  met  the 
doctor  at  the  door,  fresh  from  the  hands  of  his  wife, 
with  his  coat  brushed  and  cravat  tied,  going  out  to 
pastoral  duty.  W gave  a  start  of  surprise. 

"Oh!"  said  the  -doctor,  "you're  the  man  that 
wanted  to  buy  my  saw.  Well  you  shall  have  it  for 
nothing ;  only  let  me  have  some  of  your  wood  to  saw 
when  you  work  on  my  street." 

"Be  hanged,"  said  old  W ,  when  he  used  after- 
ward to  tell  the  story,  "if  I  didn't  want  to  crawl  into 
an  augur-hole  when  I  found  it  was  old  Beecher  him- 
self I  had  been  talking  with  so  crank  the  day  before  ". 

It  scarcely  need  be  said  that  from  that  time  "W 

was  one  of  the  doctor's  stoutest  and  most  enthusiastic 
advocates ;  not  a  word  would  he  hear  said  against 
him.  He  affirmed  that  "old  Beecher  is  a  right  glori- 
ous old  fellow,  and  the  only  man  in  these  parts  that 
can  saw  wood  faster  than  I  can." 

It  is  wonderful  how  small  a  matter  leads  to  some 
great  event.  I  will  let  the  doctor  tell  his  own  story. 

"One  thing  that  indirectly  occasioned  my  being 
thought  of  for  Lane  Seminary,  I  have  no  doubt,  was  a 
little  circumstance  that  happened  not  long  before. 
I  was  on  one  of  the  North  River  boats.  I  was  coming 
down  the  river,  when  I  saw  a  crowd,  where  a  pert  fel- 
low, a  Skeptic,  was  talking.  I  drew  near  the  ring  to 
hear  and  see  what  he  was  doing.  I  soon  saw  that  his 
antagonist  was  not  his  mateh,  and  needed  help.  He 


24  REV.    LYMAN   BEECHEK,    D.    D. 

was  showing  up  the  contradictions  of  the  Bible  ;  and 
among  others  that  Judas  hanged  himself,  and  in  an- 
other place,  fell  headlong. 

"And  how  do  you  reconcile  that?"  said  he. 

"Why  sir,"  said  I  "the  rope  broke,  I  suppose." 

"How  do  you  know?"  said  he. 

"How  do  you  know  it  did'nt?"  said  I. 

That  dashed  him.  The  people  began  to  laugh. 
Then  I  stepped  up  close  to  his  side,  and  kindly  said, 
"I  venture  to  say,  you  are  a  child  of  pious  parents, 
and  are  fighting  against  your  conscience.  That  is  a 
dangerous  thing,  and  you  had  bettter  give  it  up  !  I 
told  him,  if  he  ever  came  to  Boston,  to  call  on  me." 
"Why,"  said  he  "I  dont  know  who  you  be,"  and  half 
a  dozen  voices  cried,  "Dr.  Beecher !  Dr.  Beecher. " 

I  told  this  to  Taylor,  Taylor  told  brother  Tappan 
eulogistically ;  and  so,  when  Vail,  the  agent  for  Lane 
Seminary,  called  on  Tappen  for  funds,  he  offered 
$20,000,  on  condition  that  I  would  go." 

There  are  no  little  things  in  the  Divine  Govern- 
ment. 


CHAPTEE  II. 


REVIVAL  UNDER  DR.   NETTLETON, 
CONGREGATIONALISM 


REV.  ASAHEL  NETTLETON,  D.  D.,  was  born  April 
21st,  1783.  He  was  compelled  to  get  his  education 
himself.  Nothing  has  come  down  to  us  very  remark- 
able respecting  his  childhood.  He  had  the  advantages 
of  a  public  school  in  North  Killingworth,  Connecticut, 
the  place  of  his  birth. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  write  the  life  of  this  remark- 
able man ;  but  simply  to  give  my  recollections  of  him 
with  some  of  the  events  connected  with  his  ministry, 
as  I  witnessed  them  and  heard  them  reported. 

From  early  youth,  he  had  serious  impressions  and 
strong  conviction  of  his  sins.  He  says,  "from  my 
earliest  age,  I  endeavored  to  lead  a  moral  life,  being 
often  taught  that  God  would  punish  sinners ;  but  I 
did  not  believe  that  I  should  suffer  for  the  few  offen- 
ces, of  which  I  had  been  guilty.  Having  avoided 
many  sins  which  I  saw  in  others,  I  imagined  all  was 
well  with  me,  till  I  was  about  eighteen  years  old, 
when  I  heard  a  sermon  preached  upon  the  necessity 
of  regeneration,  which  put  me  upon  thinking  of  the 
need  of  a  change  of  heart  in  myself." 


26  REV.    ASAHEL  NETTLETON,    D.    D. 

He  went  through  all  the  phases  of  a  long  convic- 
tion, as  was  often  the  case  in  those  days.  He  prayed 
and  labored  long  to  make  himself  good  enough  for 
God  to  save  him,  and  he  says,  "I  considered  God 
obligated  to  love  me,  because  I  had  done  so  much  for 
Him,  and,  finding  no  relief,  I  wished  that  He  might 
not  be,  and  began  really  to  doubt  the  truths  of  His 
holy  word,  and  to  disbelieve  His  existence ;  for,  if 
there  was  a  God,  1  perfectly  hated  Him. 

At  length  this  state  of  agony  and  misery  was  suc- 
ceeded by  'a  great  calm.'  My  first  thought  was,  that 
I  had  lost  all  conviction,  and  I  searched  to  find  it,  as 
multitudes  have  since  done." 

After  his  conversion,  his  desire  was,  to  go  on  a 
foreign  mission.  But  neither  was  he,  nor  Samuel  J. 
Mills,  who  was  born  the  same  year,  permitted  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  the  heathen,  though  they  both 
desired  to  do  it.  Mr.  Nettleton  was  not  a  brilliant 
scholar  in  College.  This  was  not  because  he  was 
wanting  in  intellect ;  but,  because  he  was  a  consider- 
able part  of  the  time,  gloomy  in  mind  and  feeble  in 
body. 

My  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Nettleton  commenced 
in  Taunton,  in  1823,  fifty-seven  years  ago  this 
autumn.  The  Trinitarian  church  at  Taunton  green, 
had  been  organized,  had  settled  a  pastor,  Rev.  Ches- 
ter Isham,  and  he  had  died.  So  the  church  was  desti- 
tute of  a  pastor. 

Mr.  Nettleton  came  first  to  this  part  of  the  town.  He 
labored  here  several  weeks,  and  some  thirty  souls  were 


REV.   ASAHEL  NETTLETON,   D.    D.  27 

converted.  But,  his  preaching  stirred  up  opposition 
from  some  of  the  gentlemen,  who  had  left  the  old 
Unitarian  church,  because  their  pious  wives  had  join- 
ed the  new  Orthodox  church.  These  men  had  gone 
there  for  accommodation  and  not  because  they  had  any 
especial  regard  for  the  truth.  Being  offended  at  Mr. 
Nettleton's  faithful  preaching,  they  threatened  to  re- 
turn to  the  old  society ;  and,  as  they  were  men  of 
considerable  wealth,  the  little  church  consented  rather 
to  lose  Mr.  Nettleton's  preaching,  than  these  men's 
wealth ;  so  the  deacons  requested  Mr.  Nettleton  to 
leave.  At  the  same  time,  Rev.  Mr.  Maltby  came 
there  as  a  candidate  and  was  settled. 

Mr.  Nettleton  went  to  Rev.  Dr.  Cobb's  church,  a 
small  society  in  the  west  part  of  the  town,  and  said 
to  him,  "Brother  Cobb,  I  want  a  corner  of  your 
house,  till  I  find  out  whether  the  Lord  has  any  work 
for  me  to  do  here." 

Dr.  Nettleton  had  labored  two  months  and  a  half 
in  the  congregation  at  the  green ;  and,  as  said  above, 
about  thirty  had  been  converted  there.  He  labored 
with  Mr.  Cobb  from  the  first  of  October,  1823,  to  the 
middle  of  January,  1824.  My  first  acquaintance  with 
him  commenced  here,  as  I  was  then  teaching  school 
in  West  Taunton. 

I  was  boarding  at  one  of  my  patrons,  when  some 

one  said,  "they  have  got  a  crazy  man  preaching  down 

'  at  Mr.  Cobb's."     So  I  thought  I  would  go  and  hear 

him.     I  had  heard  much  of  him,  but  had  never  seen 

him.     His  appearance  was  singular.     He  was  pale, 


28  REV.    ASAHEL   NETTLETON,    D.    D. 

apparently  feeble,  with  a  black  piercing  eye,  which 
seemed  to  penetrate  right  through  you.  His  voice, 
when  he  whispered  (and  half  his  sermon  Avas  in_a 
whisper)  was  heard  in  every  part  of  the  house,  and, 
when  it  was  in  his  highest  key,  was  a  perfect  tornado, 
as  piercing  as  the  whistle  of  a  steam-engine.  He 
would  haye  every  one  seated,  and  the  house  perfectly 
still,  before  he.  commenced  the  service.  His  move- 
ments in  the  pulpit  were  very  slow.  Everything 
seemed  to  be  done  with  the  greatest  deliberation. 
When  he  read  a  hymn,  it  was  at  a  slow  and  solemn 
cadence.  In  his  prayer,  every  word  seemed  filled 
with  a  sense  of  the  immediate  presence  of  God. 
When  he  arose  to  preach,  before  naming  his  text,  he 
looked  over  the  audience  for  a  minute  or  more,  till 
all  was  still.  When  the  text  came,  every  one  in  the 
house  heard  it,  and  the  solemnity,  and  tone  in  which 
it  was  spoken,  Avas  a  sermon  to  all  present.  AYell  do 
I  remember  the  first  text  I  heard  him  preach  from ; 
it  was,  "  When  the  unclean  spirit  is  gone  out  of  a  man, 
he  walketh  through  dry  places  seeking  rest  and  find- 
eth  none.  Then  saitli  he,  'I  will  return  unto  my 
house  whence  I  came  out,'  and  when  he  is  come,  he 
findcth  it  empty,  swept  and  garnished.  Then  goeth 
he  and  taketh  to  himself  seven  other  spirits,  more 
wicked  than  himself,  and  they  enter  in  and  dwell  there, 
and  the  last  state  of  that  man  is  worse  than  the  first." 
The  church  was  filled,  and  still  as  the  chamber  of 
death ;  and,  if  the  awakened  sinner,  who  had  cast  off 
his  conviction  and  gone  back  to  his  sins,  didn't  pass 


EEV.    ASAHEL   NETTLETON,    D.    D.  29 

before  us  in  his  worst  state,  then  no  being  can  be 
shown  to  be  miserable.  The  manner  in  which  he  said 
"empty,  swept,  and  garnished" — showing  the  prepa- 
ration made  to  receive  the  unclean  spirit — thrilled 
the  souls  of  the  hearers  as  though  such  apostates  were 
worse  than  devils. 

He  preached  a  new  year's  sermon  from  the  text, 
"  Oh !  that  they  were  Avise  !  that  they  understood 
this — that  they  would  consider  their  latter  end." 

This  was  one  of  the  most  simple,  plain  sermons  that 
could  have  been  written,  the  divisions  of  which,  and 
much  of  the  language  are  remembered  to  this  day, 
now  nearly  sixty  years.  The  subject -was  man's 
mortality. 

He  bid  the  new  converts  "a  happy  new  year."  "l-es,M 
said  he,  "the  happiest  year  you  ever  saw." 

Another  text,  which  he  preached  from,  was,  "come 
thou  and  all  thy  house  into  the  ark.*"  When  he 
described  the  fate  of  that  wicked  generation,  the 
taunts,  and  jibes,  and  scoffing  ;  when  the  rain  began, 
as  one  said,  "well,  I  guess  old  Noah's  flood  is  coming 
now!"  and  another  replied,  "yes,  we've  seen  it  rain 
before  this," — when  you  saw  from  his  description, 
vivid  as  life,  the  beasts  of  the  lield  and  the  fowls  of 
the  air  flocking  to  Noah,  and  he  receiving  them  into 
the  ark,  how  they  wondered  and  stood  aghast ! — And 
when  these  wretched  men,  came  knocking  at  the 
door,  and  crying  aloud,  "Noah,  Noah,  let  us  in  !"  you 
would  have  felt  the  flood  about  your  ears. 

One  peculiarity  of  Mr.  Nettleton  was,  he  seemed 


30  EEV.   ASAHEL  NETTLETON,   D.    D. 

to  know  just  what  men  thought.  To  such  an  extent 
did  this  idea  prevail  that,  it  was  often  said  by  one 
and  another,  "well,  he  shall  not  know  what  I  think," 
and  in  order  to  prevent  it,  they  would  keep  out  of  his 
way.  But,  ere  long,  he  would  preach  a  sermon  which 
led  these  very  persons  to  come  and  ask  him,  who  had 
been  giving  him  information  about  them.  Beyond  a 
doubt,  his  knowledge  of  human  character,  was  one 
prominent  means  of  his  success.  It  astonished  us  all. 
At  a  conversational  meeting  one  evening,  Dr.  Cobb 
came  to  a  young  woman,  who  said,  "I  have  been 
serious,  but  I  have  now  got  back  into  the  world." 
"Dr.  Cobb,"  said  Mr.  Nettleton,  "here  is  a  young 
lady  who  says  she  has  been  serious,  but  has  now  got 
back  into  the  world,"  Dr.  Nettleton  said  in  that  voice 
which  no  man  could  ever  imitate.  "Got  back  into  the 
world,  let  her  go. "  That "  let  her  go  "  never  left  her. 
A  wicked  man  came  into  a  meeting  one  night,  and 
almost  as  by  force,  took  his  two  daughters  away,  and 
as  he  left,  said  Mr.  Nettleton,  "I  wish  you  would  call 
at  my  house  tomorrow  at  twelve  o'clock."  "Thank 
you,"  said  Mr.  Nettleton,  "I  will  do  so."  The  breth- 
ren said,  Mr.  Nettleton,  you  are  not  going  to  see  that 
man,  are  you?"  "Oh,  yes,  I  shall  go."  "Then  we 
must  go  with  you."  "No,  I  shall  go  alone."  "But 
he  will  only  abuse  you  with  a  rabble  of  his  own 
class."  "Well,  I  shall  go,"  said  Mr.  Nettleton.  He 
went,  and  found  just  what  the  people  had  told  him, 
— some  dozen  of  the  opposers  gathered  there.  The 
man  who  had  invited  him,  began  ;  "  Mr.  Nettleton  you 


REV.    ASAHEL  NETTLETON,    D.    D.  31 

are  doing  immense  evil ;  you  are  holding  night  meet- 
ings, and  setting  the  people  all  by  the  ears,  and  lead- 
ing all  the  boys  and  girls  to  be  out  at  night,  and 
breaking  up  the  order  and  peace  of  families,  and  there 
ought  to  be  some  law  to  stop  such  proceedings  ;  and 
I  am  determined  you  sha'n't  ruin  my  daughters." 

Mr.  Nettleton  sat  perfectly  quiet,  and  let  him  spit 
out  all  his  venom,  and,  then  addressing  the  company 
he  had  gathered  together,  said,  "Gentlemen,  you 
have  heard  what  this  man  has  said.  You  know  him. 
He  accuses  me  of  holding  late  meetings,  and  of  break- 
ing up  the  order  of  families  and  such  things.  Now 
gentlemen,  you  know,  there  is  not  a  word  of  truth  in 
what  he  says.  I  have  never  held  a  meeting  after 
nine  o'clock,  and  you  know  that  this  man  will  take 
these  same  daughters  and  go  to  a  party  or  a  theatre, 
and  stay  with  them  till  midnight." 

The  result  was,  the  very  men  he  had  gathered 
together  to  hear  him,  saw  the  falsity  of  his  position ; 
and,  to  make  the  story  short,  this  man  and  his  daugh- 
ters were  all  members  of  the  church  before  Mr.  Net- 
tleton left  the  place. 

Dr.  Nettleton's  success  was  owing  to  his  abiding  in 
Christ,  and  was  the  fulfilment  of  that  declaration,  "he 
that  abideth  in  me  bringeth  forth  much  fruit."  Well 
did  President  Dwight  say  of  him,  "the  man  of  whom 
we  expected  the  least  of  any  graduate  of  this  college, 
has  done  the  most." 

THE   MODESTY    OF   DR.    NETTLETON. 

The  most  objectionable  feature  that  I  have  ever 


32  REV.    ASAHEL   NETTLETON,    D.    D. 

witnessed  among  Evangelists,  has  been  an  assump- 
tion of  authority  and  a  kind  of  self  confidence  in  their 
labors  and  success.  In  some,  this  trait  has  been  so 
apparent  as  almost  to  nutralize  the  good  effects  of 
their  labors  and  to  greatly  weaken,  if  not  to  destroy, 
the  influence  of  the  Pastor  among  his  people. 

The  influence  of  Dr.  Nettleton,  was  just  the  reverse 
of  all  this.  He  was  the  least  assuming  of  any  man  I 
ever  saw.  He  always  referred  to  the  Pastor,  as  the 
Moses,  the  leader,  among  his  people.  He  never 
alluded  in  the  slightest  manner,  to  his  success  in 
other  places.  He  never  said,  "I  preached  from  such 
a  text,  at  such  a  time,  in  such  a  place,  and  the  effect 
was  wonderful  so  many  rose  for  prayers,  so  many 
attended  the  inquiry  meeting,  and  so  many  were  con- 
verted." There  was  not  the  least  tinge  of  any  thing 
of  this  kind, — an  item  so  often  visible  and  objection- 
able in  many  of  our  more  modern  Evangelists.  We 
often  heard  of  his  success  from  others,  but  never 
from  him. 

It  is  a  well  known  fact,  in  many  of  our  more 
modern  revivals,  that  when  Evangelists  have  been 
called  in  to  aid  the  Pastor,  and  many  have  been 
added  to  the  church,  that  the  pastor's  labors  have  soon 
ended  there,  and  he  has  removed  to  a  new  field. 
Indeed,  so  often  has  this  been  the  case,  that  many 
prudent  pastors  have  feared  to  call  upon  Evangelists 
to  labor  among  their  flock.  Unless  we  are  much 
mistaken,  this  has  been  one  of  the  chief  objections  to 
evangelistic  labors  in  our  churches. 


EEV.    ASAHEL   NETTLETON,    D.    D.  33 

Dr.  Nettleton  always  left  the  pastor  more  firmly 
seated  in  the  affection  of  his  people  than  ever  before. 
This  was  as  a  garment  of  praise  to  the  man,  and  one 
of  the  crowning  excellencies  of  his  work. 

It  has  been  already  said,  Mr.  Nettleton  went  to 
Dr.  Cobb's  the  first  of  October,  1823.  The  26th  of 
December,  1825,  he  wrote  to  a  friend  as  follows  ; 

"The  state  of  things  in  this  society  has  become 
quite  interesting  of  late. 

Meetings  are  crowded  and  solemn  as  eternity.  A 
number  have  called  to  see  us  in  deep  distress  of  soul. 
Some  of  them  told  us  that  they  received  their  first 
impressions  down  at  the  green  last  summer.  The 
fire  was  already  kindled,  and  has  already  burst  into  a 
flame  in  this  part  of  the  town.  Thejmmber  of  inhab- 
itants in  this  society  is  comparatively  small ;  and  yet 
last  Saturday  evening,  we  met  about  sixty  in  the 
meeting  for  inquiry.  About  thirty  of  these  are  rejoic- 
ing in  hope.  Of  these,  some  are  youth  of  the  first 
respectability,  and  four  or  five  men  of  influence.  Old 
professors  of  religion  tell  us  they  never  saw  such  a 
time  before." 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  the  above,  there  is  no  boast- 
ing ;  no  self  exaltation,  no  self  complacency. 

REV.  DR.   COBB'S  TESTIMONY  OF  HIS  PREACHING. 

"  His  sermons  were  clear,  sound,  able ;  full  of 
thought,  direct  and  simple,  with  unity  of  design.  He 
seemed  to  be  destined  to  be  understood.  He  enlisted 
the  hearts  and  hands  of  all  the  church,  and  especially 
the  aged  members — our  fathers,  who  were  well 


34  REV.   ASAHEL  NETTLETON,   D.   D. 

informed,  and  who  had  bourne  the  burden  and  heat 
of  the  day. 

It  was  surprising  to  see  what  overpowering  influ- 
ence his  kindness,  devotion  and  faithfulness  had  upon 
all,  old  and  young,  saints  and  sinners. — As  the  revi- 
val progressed,  he  preached  more  and  more  closely, 
and  more  and  more  doctrinally.  The  great  truths  of 
the  gospel  were  the  weapons  of  his  warfare,  and  were 
wielded  with  a  spirit  and  an  energy  which  the  people 
were  unable  to  gainsay  or  resist.  He  showed  the  sin- 
ner that  absolute,  unconditional  submission  to  a  sov- 
ereign God  was  the  first  thing  to  be  done.  To  this 
duty  the  sinner  was  urged  immediately,  with  great 
power  and  conclusiveness  of  argument. 

There  was  never  heard  a  word  or  a  sentence  in  one 
of  his  sermons  that  a  child  ten  years  old  could  not 
perfectly  understand. 

HIS  VISITS. 

These  were  frequent  and  short.  Religion  was  the 
theme  he  generally  spoke  of,  and  the  necessity  of 
attending  to  it  immediately.  If  any  had  thought 
beforehand  how  they  should  reply  to  his  questions, 
they  were  immediately  prevented  from  doing  so,  by 
his  simply  turning  their  attention  to  their  own  lost 
condition.  Often  he  would  say,  "you  have  no  time  to 
spend  in  conversation,  or  arguments  before  the  salva- 
tion of  your  soul  is  secured."  He  never  entered  into 
an  argument  upon  any  doctrinal  subject  with  a  sinner, 
but  would  say  ;  "let  us  pray  together." 

J  remember  »  visit  he  made  to  the  family  of  an 


REV.   ASAHEL  NETTLETON,    D.    D.  35 

intemperate  man.  This  man  had  presented 
himself  among  the  inquirers.  He  had  professed  to 
be  very  religious.  Mr.  Nettleton  smelt  his  breath, 
and  upon  his  expressing  a  hope,  said  "you  had  bet- 
ter give  it  up,  and  seek  anew  your  salvation  in  ear- 
nest." 

Dr.  Cobb  says,  "he  was  well  versed  in  all  the 
doctrinal  and  experimental  parts  of  the  gospel ;  feel- 
ing in  his  own  heart  the  power  of  divine  truth,  he 
was  qualified,  before  most,  to  judge  of  the  character 
of  other's  experience  ;  and  though  mild  and  concilia- 
tory in  his  manner,  he  was  faithful  in  his  warnings, 
against  false  hopes  and  spurious  conversions. 

NETTLETON  IN  THE  INQUIRY  ROOM. 

He  was  never  there  without  the  pastor,  as  a  rule, 
and  he  always  referred  to  the  pastor  as  the  leader  and 
himself  as  an  assistant.  He  never  used  art  or  cun- 
ning to  entrap  a  sinner.  He  never  disputed  about 
any  portion  of  the  scripture  with  an  inquirer.  To 
the  anxious  and  awakened  in  the  inquiry  room,  he 
was  short  and  direct  in  his  remarks,  always  conclud- 
ing with  a  short,  earnest  and  fervent  prayer,  to  God. 
In  this  prayer  there  were  no  flattering  words,  no 
attempt  at  elegant  or  eloquent  expressions,  but  bless- 
ings asked  for  poor  sinners.  It  was  just  such  a  pray- 
er as  Mr.  Moody  intended,  when  he  said  to  one  who 
was  making  a  long  prayer,  praising  God  and  telling 
Him  many  things — "ask  for  something."  Mr.  Net- 
tleton always  asked  for  something. 


36  REV.    ASAHEL   NETTLETON,    D.    D. 

HIS  MANNER. 

It  has  been  already  said,  his  manner  was  peculiar. 
It  was  so  peculiar  that  no  man  could  imitate  it.  Rev. 
Mr.  Judson,  of  Ashford,  Conn.,  where  Mr.  Nettle- 
ton  labored  in  a  revival,  tried  it,  and,  perhaps,  came 
as  near  to  it  as  any  man  could,  yet  he  fell  far  short 
of  it.  He  looked  as  no  other  man  did  that  I  ever 
saw, —  still,  quiet,  piercing,  solemn,  so  that  everyone 
seeing  him  felt  that  God  was  there.  I  used  to  think, 
as  he  looked  around  upon  sinners,  that  he  resembled 
the  look  of  Christ  upon  poor,  denying  Peter,  and  as 
that  look  of  the  Savior  brought  Peter  to  repentance, 
so,  the  look  of  Nettleton  upon  sinners  could  not  fail 
to  make  them  think. 

Then  his  speech  was  as  peculiar  as  his  look.  He 
began  low,  slow,  almost  in  a  whisper,  and  from  that 
poured  forth  a  perfect  torrent,  enough  almost  to 
arouse  the  dead.  Of  all  men  I  ever  saw,  lie  could 
impress  his  own  views  and  feelings  upon  others  the 
best. 

One  half  of  his  sermon  was  spoken  in  a  whisper, 
yet  every  sentence  and  every  syllable  was  distinctly 
heard.  Well  has  Dr.  Cobb  said,  "his  object  seemed 
to  be  to  have  his  hearers  understand  him.  This  is  a 
point  that  needs  consideration,  when  so  much  is  said 
about  ministers  not  being  heard.  That  whisper  of 
his  was  so  distinct,  so  full  of  feeling,  so  potent  that 
it  penetrated  every  corner  of  the  house,  and  his  dis- 
tinct pronunciation  was  one  of  the  great  excellencies 
of  his  preaching.  If  ministers  generally  would  iini- 


REV.    ASAHEL   NETTLETON,    D.    D.  37 

tate  him  more  in  this  particular,  there  would  be  less 
complaint  that  they  were  not  heard. 

Nothing  but  the  great  truths  of  the  Bible,  pressed 
home  by  the  Holy  Spirit  could  have  produced  such 
effects  as  were  manifested.  Mr.  Cobb  well  says,  "he 
brought  from  his  treasure  the  doctrines  of  total 
depravity,  personal  election,  reprobation,  the  sov- 
reignty  of  divine  grace,  and  the  universal  government 
of  God  in  working  aU  things  after  the  counsel  of  His 
own  will.  Never  had  brother  Nettleton  such  power 
over  my  congregation,  as  when  he  poured  forth,  in 
torrents,  these  awful  truths.  And  at  no  time  were 
converts  multiplied  so  rapidly,  and  convictions  and 
distress  so  deep,  as  when  these  doctrines  were  pressed 
home  to  the  conscience. — The  work  \vas  still,  and 
now,  after  the  lapse  of  nineteen  years,  we  are  still 
satisfied  that  the  converts  were  generally,  truly 
renewed  in  the  spirit  of  their  minds.  They  appear 
still  to  believe  and  love  the  doctrines  of  grace  by 
which  they  were  begotten  to  the  hope  of  the  gospel ; 
and  they  speak  of  that  season  as  a  day  of  divine 
power  and  grace." 

Of  Dr.  Nettleton's  preaching,  it  may  be  said,  when 
he  preached  from  the  text,  "Thou  art  weighed  in  the 
balance,"  &c.  You  saw  the  hand  writing  upon  the 
wall,  and  Belshazzer  trembling,  and  his  knees  smit- 
ing together.  When  he  preached  on  the  Flood,  you 
jelt  the  waters  gathering  around  you  ;  and  when  he 
preached  on  the  text,  "Up,  get  ye  out  of  this  place," 
&c.,  you  expected  to  see  the  fire  coming  down  upon 


38  REV.    ASAHEL  NETTLETON,    D.    D. 

Sodom,  and  the  audience  turned  their  eyes  to  the 
windows  expecting  to  witness  the  flames. 

We  close  this  short  memoir  of  this  wonderful  man 
with  the  account  which  a  lady  gave  of  her  own  case, 
in  Taunton.  She  was  of  good  standing  in  society. 
She  was  awakened  by  hearing  Dr.  Nettleton  preach. 
She  attended  the  meeting  for  conversation.  She 
said,  "I  am  undone"  to  Mr.  Nettleton.  "I  did  not 
know  I  was  such  a  sinner.  It  seems  as  though  there 
was  no  hope  for  me.  What  shall  I  do?"  Dr.  Net- 
tleton talked  with  her  several  times.  She  asked  him 
to  come  and  see  her  at  her  house.  He  did  not  prom- 
ise to  go.  He  did  not  go.  She  sent  for  him.  He 
returned  an  answer,  "I  am  engaged."  She  sent 
again,  and  a  similar  answer  was  returned.  "Indeed 
he  seemed  to  treat  me,"  said  she  "very  much  as  Christ 
did  the  woman  to  whom  he  said,  'It  is  not  meet  to 
take  the  children's  bread  and  to  cast  it  to  dogs.'  I 
felt  that  every  body  had  forsaken  me — that  God  had 
long  since  forsaken  me,  and  now,  his  minister  had  left 
me  to  perish.  My  agony  was  terrible.  My  sorrow, 
my  sins  seemed  unbearable.  I  threw  myself  upon 
my  bed.  I  said,  '  Lord  have  mercy  on  me,  for  vain 
is  the  help  of  man.'  I  felt  this,  and  I  said,  'Lord, 
make  me  anything — do  with  me  as  thou  seest  best. 
Jesus  save  me.' 

Soon  I  felt  peace.  My  sorrow  had  gone — my 
fearful  state  was  changed.  I  was  calm.  I  said,  'what 
can  this  be  ?  What  does  it  mean  ?  My  conviction  is 
gone,  and  I  am  now  lost,  lost  forever.'  Still  I  was 


BBV.    ASAHEL  NETTLETON,   D.    D.  39 

happy.  I  was  determined  to  serve  the  Lord  whether 
I  was  saved  or  lost. 

Now  everything  was  changed.  God  was  right. 
Christ  seemed  precious.  All  creation  seemed  to  be 
singing  the  praises  of  the  Most  High.  I  wondered 
why  I  had  not  felt  this  before.  1  saw  that  it  was 
grace,  mercy,  undeserved  mercy  that  saved  me,  and 
that  my  conviction  and  all  my  own  efforts  to  make  me 
good  enough  for  God  to  save  me,  only  sunk  me 
deeper  in  sin,  and  that  all  that  God  required  was  to 
submit  myself  to  Him  and  be  saved  in  His  way,  and 
not  by  works  that  I  could  do." 

Soon,  she  appeared  at  the  conversational  meeting 
with  a  calm  and  pleasant  face  ;  her  countenance  betok- 
ening the  joy  and  peace  that  reigned  within. 

One  of  the  first  questions  she  asked  was,  "Mr.  Net- 
tleton,  why  did  you  not  come  and  see  me  when  I  sent 
for  you?  "Because  I  felt  that  the  Lord  was  doing 
the  work,  and  if  I  came,  you  would  trust  to  me  and 
not  in  God." 

"That  was  just  it,"  said  she,  "I  felt  that  you  had 
given  me  up,  and  I  went  to  Jesus,  and  he  saved  me." 

Such,  and  so  wonderful,  was  his  knowledge  of  the 
human  heart,  and  of  the  working  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

While  in  college  he  had  little  taste  for  Physical 
Science  or  English  Literature,  but  he  had  great 
delight  in  Intellectual  and  Moral  Philosophy.  His 
proficiency  in  these  branches  laid  the  foundation  for 
that  quickness  of  perception  and  accuracy  of  discrim- 
ination as  to  describe  human  nature  so  graphically 


40  REV.    NATHAN   LORD,    D.    D. 

that  his  hearers  often  supposed  some  one  had  been 
revealing  their  particular  cases  to  him.  It  was  owing 
to  this  also  that  he  was  enabled  to  deal  so  skillfully 
Avith  error  and  false  doctrine. 


REV.    NATHAN  LORD,   D.   D.,    CONGREGA- 
TIONALIST. 


REV.  DR.  LORD  was  the  6th  President  of  Dartmouth 
College,  N.  H.  He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Mehit- 
able  (Perkins)  Lord,  was  born  at  Berwick,  Maine, 
Nov.  28th,  1792.  He  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College 
in  the  class  of  1809,  aged  sixteen.  While  he  was  in 
college,  Joseph  McKeen  and  Jesse  Appleton  were  each 
president  two  years  of  the  institution.  They  were 
both  men  renowned  for  science  and  stability.  Mr. 
Lord  was  a  teacher  for  some  time  in  Exeter  Academy. 
He  studied  theology  at  Andover  and  graduated  in 
1815.  He  had  been  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
church  of  Amherst,  N.  H.,  when  he  was  called  to  the 
Presidency  of  Dartmouth.  He  was  accounted  a 
strong  man  in  the  pulpit.  He  had  the  grace  of  per- 
severance. The  writer  remembers  in  his  youth  being 
present  at  a  meeting  of  the  Piscataqua  Association 
when  a  proposition  was  made  to  have  three  prayers 
for  three  different  objects.  Mr.  Lord  being  present 
was  called  upon  to  offer  the  first  prayer.  He  made 
one  of  those  old  fashioned  long  prayers,  comprising 


REV.    NATHAN  LORD,    D.    D.  41 

about  everything  that  could  be  thought  of.  Rev.  Mr. 
Dow  of  York,  Maine,  was  called  upon  to  offer  the 
second  prayer,  when  he  quietly  said :  "  There  is 
nothing  to  pray  for,  as  Mr.  Lord  has  comprehended 
everything  in  his  prayer." 

Mr.  Baxter  Perry  Smith  who  has  written  a  very 
good  history  of  Dartmouth  College,  says — "President 
Lord  brought  to  the  accomplishment  of  his  task,  a 
fine  physique  ;  a  countenance  serene,  yet  impressive  ; 
a  voice  rare  both  for  its  richness  and  its  power ;  a 
pleading,  almost  magnetic,  dignity  of  mem  ;  a  mind 
most  capacious  and  discriminating  by  nature,  richly 
stored  by  severe  application,  and  thoroughly  disci- 
plined by  varied  professional  labor ;  and  a  heart 
always  tender,  yet  always  true  to  the  profoundest 
convictions  of  duty.  A  deep,  rich,  and  thorough 
religious  experience  well  fitted  the  graceful  and  ear- 
nest man,  to  be  a  graceful  and  earnest  Christian 
teacher.  The  question  of  fitness  for  the  position  as 
an  executive  was  soon  settled  beyond  the  possibility 
of  a  doubt.  It  required  but  a  brief  acquaintance  with 
President  Lord  to  teach  any  one,  that  he  fully  believed 
in  the  most  literal  acceptation  of  the  doctrine,  that 
"the  powers  that  be  are  ordained  of  God." 

A  recognition  of  this  fundamental  law  guided  and 
governed  him  daily  and  hourly  through  all  his  public 
life.  When  early  in  his  administration,  he  discov- 
ered symptoms  of  a  spirit  of  insubordination  in  the 
college,  he  gave  all  concerned  to  understand  most 
fully,  that  it  would  be  his  duty  to  maintain  the 


42  REV.    NATHHN  LORD,    D.    D. 

supremacy  of  the  law.  There  was  never  any  devia- 
tion from  this  loyalty  to  duty  in  administering  the 
discipline  of  the  College.  No  undue  regard  for  his 
own  dignity,  or  comfort,  or  safety,  deterred  him  from 
visiting,  at  any  hour  of  the  day  or  night,  the  scene  of 
disorder. 

When  he  had  been  more  than  forty  years  an  officer 
of  the  college  he  reaffirmed  his  adherence  to  this 
principle,  in  a  most  emphatic  manner,  when  those  to 
whom  he  did  not  deem  himself  responsible  sought  to 
point  out  to  him  the  path  of  duty." 

Dr.  Lord  was  highly  conservative  and  always  what 
Abolitionists  called  pro-slavery.  As  he  grew  older, 
this  principle  strengthened,  and  when  the  country 
was  involved  in  the  civil  war,  in  1863,  the  trustees 
felt  that  the  time  had  come,  when  the  president  of 
their  college  ought  to  be  found  on  the  side  of  the 
Union ;  so  they  passed  the  following  resolution, — 
among  others, 

"JResolved,  That  in  our  opinion  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
trustees  of  the  college  to  seriously  inquire  whether  its 
interests  do  not  demand  a  change  in  the  presidency ; 
and  to  act  according  to  their  judgement  in  the  premi- 
ses." 

Upon  the  adoption  of  this  resolution,  Dr.  Lord 
resigned  the  presidency  of  the  college. 

Thus  ended  his  more  than  forty  years  connection 
with  it  as  a  trustee  and  president. 

The  cause  of  his  resignation  was  his  taking  up,  if 
not  really  against  the  government,  yet  cherishing 


EEV.    JOHN   SANFORD.  43 

those  higher  conservative  views  which  led  him  to 
oppose  the  cause  of  abolition,  and  also  to  oppose  the 
war. 

With  his  scientific  research,  all  his  renown  as  an 
instructor,  and  all  his  piety,  President  Lord  made  a 
complete  somersault  on  the  subject  of  slavery.  In 
earlier  life,  he  was  almost  as  zealous  in  anti-slavery 
movements  as  William  Lloyd  Garrison,  and  in  later 
life,  he  was  thoroughly  pro-slavery,  and  this,  as  has 
been  seen  above,  was  the  cause  of  his  resignation. 
What  caused  this  radical  change  in  him,  is  more  than 
we  can  tell.  It  is  evident  the  trustees  took  the  right 
and  proper  course,  both  for  the  good  of  the  college 
and  the  welfare  of  the  country. 


REV.    JOHN    SANFORD,     CONGREGATION- 
ALIST. 


REV.  JOHN  SANFORD  was  born  in  Berkeley,  Mass., 
Sept.  llth,  1788.  He  died  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  July 
llth,  1866.  He  fitted  for  college  at  Bristol  Acad- 
emy, in  Taunton,  and  graduated  from  Brown  Uni- 
versity in  the  class  of  1812.  He  studied  Theology 
with  Rev.  Thomas  Andros,  of  Berkeley.  He  was  lic- 
ensed to  preach  Oct.  10th,  1815.  He  was  ordained 
in  Fairhaven,  April  24th,  1816,  as  a  missionary  to 
the  Cherokee  nation  in  West  Tennessee.  After  trav- 
elling by  horse  and  carriage  as  far  as  Lancaster,  Pa. , 


44  REV.    JOHN  SANFORD. 

he  was  obliged  by  ill  health,  to  abandon  this  under- 
taking. After  preaching  in  Dighton,  Barnstable, 
and  South  Dennis,  as  a  supplying  minister,  he  was 
installed  pastor  of  the  church  at  the  last  named  place 
Dec.  30th.,  1818.  This  church  had  been  organized 
shortly  before,  under  his  preaching,  thus  like  the 
great  Apostle,  he  did  not  build  on  another  man's 
foundation.  He  resigned  the  pastorate  of  this  church 
in  1838,  and  removed  with  his  family  to  Amherst, 
Mass.,  where  he  resided  until  1854.  He  preached 
frequently  while  there,  as  opportunity  offered. 

In  1854,  he  removed  to  Taunton,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death.  Sept.  2d,  1824,  he  married  Miss  Sophia 
Loud  of  Weymouth.  Two  sons  and  a  daughter  were 
born  unto  them.  The  daughter  died  early.  The 
second  son  has  been  speaker  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. Mr.  Sanford  was  buried  in  South  Den- 
nis, among  the  people  of  his  charge,  where  his  son, 
Hon.  John  Sanford,  of  Tauntou,  erected  a  .suitable 
monument  to  his  memory. 

Mr.  Sanford  had  a  good  mind,  was  greatly  beloved 
by  his  classmates  in  college,  and  would  have  held  a 
high  standing  among  them  as  a  scholar,  had  not  ill- 
health  prevented  him  from  study.  He  was  all  his  life 
a  great  sufferer  from  nervous  debility.  With  a  large 
body,  and  of  manly  proportions,  and  of  fine  personal 
appearance,  he  had  a  nervous  irritation  and  excitabil- 
ity almost  imparallclled  among  men.  Like  Robert  Hall, 
the  great  English  Baptist,  he  endured  great  bodily 
suffering  during  his  whole  life  :  and,  what  was  more 


REV.    JOSIAH   BENT.  45 

trying  to  him  than  all  other  things,  his  large,  healthy 
looking  body  and  ruddy  countenance  seemed  to  say 
to  all  around  him  that  his  feebleness  and  suffer- 
ings were  mostly  imaginary. 

John  Sanford  was  of  a  very  calm  and  amiable  dis- 
position, rarely  ruffled  by  any  passing  events,  and 
always  spoke  well  of  his  fellow  men.  He  was  a  plain, 
faithful  preacher  of  the  good  old  Puritan  school,  and 
he  was  a  good  preacher.  When,  in  the  early  part  of 
his  preaching,  he  would  tell  his  mother,  "  I  can't  go. 
I  am  unable  to  go,"  he  would  go,  and  preach  very 
acceptably,  and  return  in  much  better  spirits  than  he 
had  when  he  went.  His  labors  were  blest,  and  the 
church  which  he  served  was  greatly  built  up.  Mr. 
Sanford  used  to  say,  "in  the  resurection,  I  hope  to 
have  a  body  free  from  pain, "  reminding  us  of  the  text, 
"There  shall  be  no  more  pain." 


REV.  JOSIAH  BENT,  CONGREGATIONALISM 


REV.  JOSIAH  BENT  was  born  at  Milton,  Mass,  Oct. 
7th,  1797,  and  died  at  Ainherst,  Nov.  19th,  1839. 
The  Northampton  Gazette  made  a  brief  record  of  his 
private  and  ministerial  character,  about  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  will  constitute  a  part  of  the  follow- 
ing notice. 

Mr.  Bent  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1822, 
where  he  acquired  a  rank  in  scholarship  among  the 


46  REV.   JOSIAH  BENT. 

foremost  of  his  class,  and  was  highly  esteemed  for  his 
moral  and  social  virtues.  He  received  his  theological 
education  at  Princeton,  N.  JV,  and  was  settled  at 
North  Weymouth,  in  1824,  at  Falmouth,  in  1835, 
and  at  Amherst,  1836. 

His  removal  from  Weymouth,  and  afterwards  from 
Falmouth,  was  not  owing  to  "love  of  change,"  or  to 
any  disaffection  on  the  part  of  his  people,  but  to  cir-  • 
cumstances  beyond  the  control  of  man,  which  fully 
justified,  (though  attended  in  both  cases  with  mutual 
regret,)  his  removal. 

His  moral  character,  from  childhood,  was  remark- 
ably correct  and  pure,  and  once  he  trusted  in  his  own 
goodness  for  salvation.  Considering  his  native  firm- 
ness of  character,  and  his  conscientiousness  of  per- 
sonal virtue,  it  could  not  have  been  expected  that  his 
religious  views  would  have  been  easily  changed.  But 
he  was  "a  chosen  vessel ;"  and  under  the  preaching  of 
Rev.  Joshua  Huntington,  of  Boston,  he  became  a 
hopeful  subject  of  renewing  grace,  and  a  believer  of 
those  evangelical  truths  of  which  he  was  afterwards  a 
faithful,  devoted,  and  successful  minister. 

He  was  grave  in  manners  ;  solemn  and  impressive 
in  his  preaching ;  serious  and  spiritual  in  conversation  ; 
consistent  in  his  Christian  character,  in  private  as  well 
as  in  public  life  ;  discriminating  in  his  views  of  truth 
and  duty,  and  distinguished  for  conscientiousness,  wis- 
dom, and  prudence  combined  with  decision  and 
energy.  The  strength  and  fervor  of  his  attachments, 
in  his  social  and  pastoral  connections,  were  such  as 


REV.    JOSIAH   BENT.  47 

secured  the  confidence  and  affection  of  his  people,  as 
well  as  of  his  most  intimate  friends.  Without  enu- 
merating all  his  excellencies  it  may  be  said  of  him  with 
great  propriety  that  he  sustained  the  character  of  a 
good  minister  and  an  exemplary  Christian. 

At  each  of  the  places  of  his  settlement  he  shared  in 
the  honors  and  joys  of  a  powerful  revival  of  religion. 
"  It  is  believed  that  not  less  than  five  hundred  souls 
became  the  subjects  of. hopeful  conversation  under  his 
preaching,  during  a  ministry  of  less  than  sixteen 
years.  And  will  not  his  name  be  kept  in  everlasting 
remembrance  ?  If  his  spiritual  children,  hundreds  of 
sons  and  daughters  for  whom  he  wept  in  secret  places 
and  wrestled  at  a  throne  of  grace,  whose  feet  he  taught 
to  walk  in  the  paths  of  truth  and  righteousness — if 
these  are  true  to  their  profession  and  true  to  God,  his 
influence  will  not  have  ceased  on  the  earth.  It  will 
continue  to  be  felt,  extending  through  the  world  and 
to  the  end  of  tune.  And  when  the  monuments,  which 
may  be  erected  in  honor  of  human  greatness,  shall 
have  fallen  equally  low  with  the  victims  of  an  earthly 
ambition,  his  monuments,  the  seal  of  his  ministry  will 
continue  to  rise  and  shine  with  renewed  lustre,  in  a 
world  of  glory  and  immortality. 

Mrs.  P.  R.  Dickinson,  daughter  of  Mr.  Bent,  has 
sent  me  the  following  :  — 

"On  the  first  day  of  Oct.  1824,  my  father  completed 
his  27th  year.  On  the  13th  of  the  same  month,  he 
was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Old  North  Church,  which 
was  founded  in  the  year  that  the  town  was  settled, 


48  REV.   JOSIAH  BENT. 

1624  ;  the  second  colony  and  church  in  New  England. 
On  the  25th  of  Oct.,  same  year,  he  was  married  to 
Paulina  Rice  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  The  parsonage  where 
my  parents  lived,  then  about  200  years  old,  was  orig- 
inally a  barrack  in  the  Indian  war." 

The  author  knew  Mr.  Bent  well.  He  performed 
the  ceremony  when  we  were  married,  Jan.  18th, 
1832,  in  his  first  charge  in  Weyrnouth.  Mr.  Bent 
was  a  good  pastor,  a  good  scholar,  and  a  good 
preacher.  He  was  settled  in  Weymouth  in  troublous 
times.  The  anti-masonic  fever  then  raged  in  the  com- 
munity, and  Mr.  Bent,  fortunately  or  unfortunately, 
was  a  mason.  This  was  the  real  cause  of  his  leaving 
Weymouth.  He  was  not  in  fault,  and»he  left  regret- 
ted by  all  except  those  who  were  intensely  anti- 
masonic. 

This  was  one  of  those  excitements  which  arise  occa- 
sionally in  the  community,  and  which  sweep  "over  the 
land  like  a  tornado.  The  present  generation  has  no 
conception  of  the  intense  feeling  and  excitement  which 
then  raged. 

Mr.  Bent's  removal  was  not  caused  by  any  failure, 
or  lack  of  his  not  performing  his  duty  ;  nor  from  any 
dissatisfaction  among  his  people,  except  as  stated 
above,  he  was  a  mason,  and  in  that  excitement  many 
good  men  said  they  would  not  hear  a  mason  preach. 
That  excitement,  like  many  others,  passed  away,  and 
Mr.  Bent  lived  and  died  a  faithful  pastor. 


C^V^-^Y^-^ 


CHAPTEK  HI. 


REV.  GEORGE  W.  MUSGRAVE,  D.  D.,  LL.  D., 
PRESBYTERIAN. 


[WRITTEN  BY  REV.  WILLIAM  T.  EVA,  D.  D.] 
A  TRUE  RECORD  of  the  life  and  deliniation  of  the 
character  of  a  good  and  great  man  can  seldom  fail  to 
be  of  interest  and  profit.  And  when  one  has  done  so 
much  for  the  church  of  God  as  has  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  held  so  many  positions  of  trust  and  filled 
them  all  so  well,  good  people  of  whatever  name  will 
recognize  him  as  a  benefactor  to  his  age,  and  appre- 
ciate any  proper  notice  of  his  services. 

Dr.  Musgrave  was  born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
on  the  19th  day  of  October,  1804.  His  father  Joseph 
had  come  from  the  north  of  Ireland  in  boyhood  ;  his 
mother  Catherine,  daughter  of  Frederick  Schaumen- 
kessel  of  Germany,  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia. 
Thus  there  is  united  in  him  the  blood  of  the  Scotch- 
Irish  and  the  German,  the  product  of  the  union  being 
warmth,  eloquence,  the  firmness  of  a  rock  and  the 
intellectual  power  of  a  giaut. 


50  REV.    GEORGE   W.    MUSGRAVE. 

The  father  dying  in  the  son's  infancy  his  "bringing 
up  "  devolved  upon  his  mother  and  grandfather.  The 
latter  was  a  kindly,  good  man,  of  careful  habits  and 
much  common  sense,  whose  love  for  his  grand-son 
was  truly  parental.  He  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  war 
for  American  Independence  and  was  a  great  admirer 
of  General  Washington.  It  was  at  his  request  that 
Dr.  Musgrave  was  named  after  the  "father  of  his 
country."  The  mother,  in  the  breadth  of  her  intelli- 
gence, the  gentleness  of  her  spirit,  and  the  symmetry 
of  her  Christian  character,  was  a  model  mother,  who 
so  governed,  guided  and  impressed  herself  upon  her 
son,  that  to  this  day  he  never  speaks  of  her  without 
evident  reverence  and  tenderness.  The  only  other 
member  of  the  family  was  a  sister,  intelligent,  beau- 
tiful, useful  and  beloved.  These  and  other  kindred 
ones  have  all  passed  away,  and  the  Doctor  remains 
as  "the  last  leaf  upon  the  tree." 

The  early  scholastic  education  of  Dr.  Musgrave  was 
received  mainly  at  the,  in  its  day,  celebrated  classical 
academy  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  B.  Wylie,  D.  D.,  where 
he  was  fitted  to  enter  the  junior  class  of  the  college 
of  New  Jersey,  at  Princeton.  But  his  health  failing, 
the  thought  of  college  had  to  be  relinquished,  and  he 
continued  his  studies  privately,  passing  however, 
as  far  as  possible,  through  the  regular  college  curri- 
culum. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Musgrave  were  connected 
with  the  second  Presbyterian  church  of  Philadelphia, 
and  their  son,  consequently,  was  under  the  catechet- 
ical tuition  of  the  n  vgreud  doctors  Ashbel  Green, 


REV.    GEORGE   W.   MUSGBAVE.  51 

and  J.  J.  Janeway — a  fact  which  perhaps  accounts, 
partly  at  least,  for  those  clear  views  of,  and  staunch 
adherance  to  Orthodox  doctrine,  for  which  he  has  ever 
been  noted.  After  his  father's  death,  his  mother  and 
himself  joined  the  first  church  of  the  Notheru  Liber- 
ties, then  under  the  pastorate  of  the  earnest  and  faith- 
ful Rev.  James  Patterson.  Entering  the  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary,  he  pursued  and  completed  his 
studies  for  the  ministry  of  the  gospel  under  the 
direction  of  doctors  Archibald  Alexander  and  Samuel 
Miller. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Baltimore,  to  which  city  he  had  been  providentially 
directed,  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1828,  and  having 
received  a  call  to  the  third  Presbyterian  church 
thereof,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  its  pastor,  in 
July,  1830. 

Here,  side  by  side  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 
Kevins,  pastor  of  the  first  church,  and  the  Rev.  Rob- 
ert J.  Breckinridge,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  pastor  of  the  sec- 
ond church,  he  labored  for  twenty-two  years ;  and 
with  a  remarkable  degree  of  success.  Three  times 
his  church  edifice  was  enlarged  to  accommodate  the 
ever  growing  congregations  attracted  by  his  faithful- 
ness, piety  and  power.  As  a  pastor  he  was  wise, 
diligent  and  laborious  :  few  men  in  the  sacred  office 
have  ever  been  more  so.  And  the  result  was  that  the 
flock  was  kept  well  together,  he  being  enabled  to 
refer,  as  he  sometimes  does  with  evident  satisfaction, 
to  the  fact,  that  in  a  city  where  the  influence  of  the 


52  REV.    GEORGE  W.    MUSGRAVE. 

Roman  church  is  so  powerful,  no  member  of  his  con- 
gregation was  ever  led  astray  into  that  superstition. 
In  the  pulpit  his  power  was  great.  Preaching  for  the 
most  part  without  notes,  and  possessed  hot  only  of 
a  clear  and  well  furnished  mind  which,  as  by  instinct, 
took  the  logical  view  and  connections  and  bearings 
of  the  subjects  he  treated,  but  also  of  a  strong  and 
well  modulated  voice,  which  never  failed  to  be  heard, 
and  a  degree  of  nervous  electric  force  that  \vas 
quite  remarkable,  he  generally  succeeded  in  securing 
attention  and  making  a  deep  impression.  The 
"hungry  sheep"  of  God's  elect,  "looked  up  and  were 
fed,  and  sinners  were  converted  from  the  error  of 
their  ways. 

His  sermons  were  in  large  part  "doctrinal"  and 
"denominational,"  but  were  not  by  any  means 
restricted  to  the  "dry  bones"  of  theology,  or  to  the 
mere  commonplaces  of  exposition.  Argument,  phil- 
osophy, practical  appeal,  sometimes  poetry,  were 
introduced  and  made  powerfully  subservient  to  the 
purpose  of  the  preacher.  Some  of  .these  sermons 
were  published  at  the  request  of  those  who  heard.them, 
and  two  of  them  entitled,  "A  Vindication  of  the  Divine 
Decrees,"  were  re-published  by  the  Presbyterian 
Board  of  Publication. 

But  not  to  his.  own  congregation  were  .the. labors 
and  influence  of  Dr.  Musgrave  confined.  Active  in 
Presbytery,  in  Synod,  and  in  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  church,  in  which  latter  body  he  first  took  his 
seat  as  a  commissioner  in  the  year  1831,  being  then 


REV.    GEORGE   W.    MUSGRAVE.  53 

one  of  the  youngest  members,  he  came  to  be  a  recog- 
nized "leader"  of  Orthodoxy  and  Presbyterianism. 
In  1836  he  was  chosen  a  director  of  the  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary,  and  has  been  uninterruptedly 
re-elected  ever  since.  From  the  college  of  New 
Jersey  (Princeton)  he  received  the  degree  of  D.  D. 
in  1845.  He  was  made  a  trustee  of  the  college  in 
1859,  and  still  retains  the  office.  The  University  of 
Indiana  gave  him  the  decree  of  LL.  D.,  in  1862. 

In  the  year  1852  he  was  appointed  to  the  position 
of  Corresponding  secretary  of  the  Presbyterian  Board 
of  Publication.  In  view  of  certain  peculiar  circum- 
stances he  could  not  help  regarding  the  appointment 
as  a  providential  one,  and  so,  at  his  own  request  being 
released  from  his  pastoral  charge,  he  left  Baltimore 
and  removed  to  the  city  of  his  birth.  The  next  year 
he  was  chosen  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Domestic  Missions,  then  located  in  the  same  city. 
He  entered  upon  his  work  in  this  important  office 
with  great  energy ;  and  with  unflagging'  zeal  and 
marked  administrative  ability  prosecuted  that  work, 
until  his  failing  sight,  from  a  severe  inflammation  of  the 
eyes,  compelled  him  in  1861  to  resign.  Recovering 
however  from  the  worst  symptoms,  though  with  vis- 
ion much  impaired,  he  accepted  an  invitation  to 
become  the  pastor  of  the  North  Tenth  Street  Church 
of  Philadelphia,  and  notwithstanding  his  infirmity, 
labored  with  his  usual  energy  and  success  until  the 
fall  of  1868,  when  he  was  again  called  to  the  post  of 
corresponding  secretary  of  Domestic  Missions,  con- 


54  REV.   GEORGE  W.   MUSGRAVE. 

tinned  until  the  removal  of  the  board  in  1870  to  the 
city  of  New  York.  His  work  in  this  important 
branch  of  service  in  the  church  was  one  of  great  use- 
fulness. During  his  tenure  of  office,  in  both  periods, 
not  less  than  $1,048,237  were  received  into  the 
treasury,  and  a  great  army  of  Missionaries,  many  of 
whom  were  first  appointed  under  his  administration, 
were  aided.  And  yet  such  was  the  rigid  economy 
practiced  and  the  wise  forecast  with  which  his  meas- 
ures were  taken,  that  not  only  were  all  the  demands 
of  the  field  and  the  claims  of  the  hard  working  labor- 
ers therein  met,  but  the  close  of  his  terms  of  service 
showed  not  a  dollar  of  indebtedness,  but  a  working 
balance  on  hand.  To  this  day  the  Missionaries  call 
him  "blessed,"  and  contend  for  the  privilege  when- 
ever opportunity  offers  of  shaking  him  by  the  hand 
and  thanking  him  for  his  careful  attention  to  their 
interests,  when  he  had  those  interests  in  charge,. 

All  students  of  ecclesiastical  history  in  our  coun- 
try know,  that  in  the  year  1837,  the  controversies 
which  for  years  had  been  carried  on  between  what 
were  known  as  the  "Old  School"  and  "New  School" 
parties  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  culminated  in  the 
division  of  the  church  into  two  parts.  This  rupture 
continued  for  thirty  years ;  a  great  sorrow  to  many, 
though  perhaps  upon  the  whole  overruled  for  good. 

But  when  the  first  movements  to  heal  it  were  made, 
they  were  vigorously  seconded  by  Dr.  Musgrave. 
In  the  remarkable  gathering  of  representatives  of  all 
schools  and  divisions  convened  in  Philadelphia,  in  the 


REV.    GEORGE   W.    MUSGRAVE.  55 

Presbyterian  National  Union  Convention,  November, 

1867,  he  was  a  leading  spirit,  director  and  counsellor. 
And  the  minutes  of  that  convention  show  that  some 
of  the    wisest,    most  eloquent  and   most   powerful 
speeches  in  favor  of  the  objects  of  the  meeting  were 
made  by  him.     The  basis  of  the  re-union  of  the  two 
branches,  "Old"  and  "New  School,"  in  the  precise 
form  in  wrhich  it  was  ultimately  adopted,  viz, ;  "the 
doctrinal   and   ecclesiastical    basis   of   our   common 
standard  pure  and  simple,"  (meaning  the  Westmin- 
ster Confession  of  Faith,  etc.,)  with  out  the  "Concur- 
rent Declarations"  forming  a  part  of  the  compact 
he  first  proposed.  This  plan  was  set  forth  in  a  circular 
letter  issued  to  the  Presbyterians  of  the  Central  Pres- 
bytery  of  Philadelphia,  of  which   body   he   was   a 
prominent  and  honored  member. 

When  the  General  Assembly  of  the  "Old  School" 
branch  met  in  the  city  of  Albany,  New  York,  May, 

1868,  he  was  chosen  Moderator  of  the  body,  the 
highest  honor  of  the  church,  and  a  position  which  he 
filled  with  unsurpassed  dignity  and  efficiency.     Of  the 
assembly  which  met  the  next  year  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  he  was   also   a  member,   and   was    made   the 
chairman  of  its    committee    on    "IJeunion."       The 
Assembly,  in  virtue  of  an  understanding  to  that  effect 
with  the  other  ("New  School")  Assembly,  adjourned 
to  meet  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  in  the  month  of 
November  following.     Then  and  there  it  was  found 
that  the  basis  had  been  approved  of  by  more  than  the 
necessary  two  thirds  of  the  Presbyteries  ;  and  he  was 


56  REV.    GEORGE  W.    MUSGRAVE. 

happy  to  see  the  great  rupture  healed,  the  desired 
re-union  consummated  (Laus  Deo  /) .  He  was  at  once 
appointed  chairman  of  the  "joint  committee "  of  the 
two  former  bodies  on  "Reconstruction"  ;  and  the  plan 
and  principles  reported  by  him  to  the  first  re-united 
General  Assembly  held  in  Philadelphia,  May,  1870, 
for  the  arrangement  and  adjustment  of  the  Synods 
and  Presbyteries,  were  adopted.  It  is  a  pleasure  to 
note  that  in  all  these  labors  connected  with  re-un- 
ion, he  had  association  with  and  hearty  co-operation 
from  many  distinguished  men  in  both  branches  of  the 
church,  those  of  the  "New  School"  branch  being,  for 
the  most  pail,  represented  by  that  man  of  distin- 
guished eminence  as  an  orator,  preacher,  pastor,  and 
counsellor,  the  Rev.  William  Adams,  D.  D.,  LLD.,  of 
New  York. 

Since  the  re-union,  Dr.  Musgrave  has  continued  to 
reside  in  his  native  city,  Philadelphia,  and  in  Assem- 
blies, Synods,  Presbyteries,  Board  and  Committee, 
has  been  constantly  engaged.  Indeed  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  General  Assembly  more  frequently 
than  any  man  now  living,  having,  about  the  time  of 
re-union,  had  a  seat  in  that  body  for  five  consecutive 
years.  In  the  autumn  of  the  year  1870,  the  Philadel- 
phia Presbyterian  Alliance,  for  evangelist  work  in  the 
city  was  organized.  He  was  elected  president  and 
has  been  re-elected  every  year  since.  That  organiza- 
tion originated  the  Presbyterian  Hospital  in  Philadel- 
phia, chartered  in  1871,  and  opened  for  patients  July 
1st,  1872.  Erom  the  beginning  he  has  been  presi- 


EEV.    GEORGE    W.    MUSGRAVE.  57 

dent  of  its  board  of  trustees,  and  is  still ;  and  in  that 
capacity  he  helped  to  secure  from  Mr.  John  A.  Brown 
the  princely  donation  of  $300,000,  that  assured  its 
success.  Of  its  finance  and  visiting  committees  he  is 
also  a  very  active  and  diligent  member. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
1871  which  met  in  ihe  city  of  Chicago.  Here  he 
was  especially  prominent,  active  and  useful,  particu- 
larly in  opposition  to  the  proposed  scheme  of  a  "Cen- 
tral Treasury" ;  which,  mainly  through  his  influence 
in  debate  and  address,  was  then  crippled,  and  in  the 
Assembly  of  three  years'  following  in  St.  Louis,  was 
killed.  It  was  in  reference  to  his  powers  of  debate, 
as  exhibited  in  this  Assembly  in  Chicago,  that  Dr. 
John  Hall  of  Xew  York,  though  championing  the 
opposite  side,  said,  "we  are  all  proud  of  him,"  and 
also  that  venerable  professor  of  theology  in  Princeton, 
Dr.  Charles  Hodge,  over  his  own  signature,  wrote  to 

him  thus  :  —  ^ 

'•'  PRixeETOtf ,  Nov.  1,  1871. 

"  My  Dear  Doctor :  I  was  quite  alarmed  when  I 
heard  the  report  of  your  illness,  but  was  greatly 
relieved  when  our  good  friend  Dr.  Maclean  returned 
with  such  favorable  tidings  of  your  improvement. 

"*  *  *  *.  We  all  look  upon  you  as  our  Ajax,  and 
are  frightened  when  anything-  threatens  to  lay  you 
a^ide.  You  saved  the  church,  as  I  think,  from,  a 
great  calamity  at  the  last  Assembly,  and  I  trust  you 
may  be  spared  many  years  to  do  good  service.  I 
should  have  gone  with  Dr.  M.  to  see  you  had  I  been 
well  enough.  *  *  *  * 

"Your  sincere  friend,    CHARLES  HODGE. 
DK.  MUSGRAVE." 


58  REV.    GEORGE  W.   MUSGBAVE. 

About  the  year  187$  the  question  of  "life"  or 
"term  service"  in  the  ruling  eldership  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  began  to  be  agitated.  Dr.  Musgrave 
entered  into  the  controversy,  and  in  a  series  of  pow- 
erful articles  published  in  the  newspapers  of  the 
denomination,  advocated  and  demonstrated  the  duty 
and  expediency  of  granting  to  those  churches  which 
desired  it,  the  privelege  of  electing  their  elders  to 
service  for  a  term  of  years,  rather  than  for  life  or 
good  behavior.  And  it  was  largely  through  his  efforts 
that  the  measure  was  adopted.  Then  came  the  pro- 
ject of  reducing  the  size  of  the  general  assembly 
which,  in  the  judgment  of  many,  had  by  the  re-un- 
ion become  too  large  and  unwieldy.  First  a  plan 
of  synodical  representation  was  brought  forward. 
This  the  doctor  opposed  as  being  unpresbyterial,  and 
it  was  lost ;  as  were  also  one  or  two  other  schemes. 

Then  a  plan  making  the  number  of  communicants 
and  ministers  the  basis,  and  giving  to  the  smaller 
presbyteries  but  half  a  representation,  was  proposed. 
Against  this  also  the  doctor  arrayed  himself  as 
being  unconstitutional,  etc.,  and  by  an  overwhelming 
majority  of  votes  against  it,  it  was  defeated.  The 
doctor's  own  plan  is  that  of  "the  parity  of  the  presby- 
teries," viz.,  giving  them  all  an  equal  representation 
like  the  states  in  the  senate  of  the  nation  : — this,  if 
the  assembly  is  to  be  reduced  at  all,  a  matter  which 
in  common  with  the  great  mass  of  the  church,  he  is 
disposed  to  think,  may  as  well  be  suffered  to  rest  for 
the  present.  But  in  all  the  agitations  on  this  subject 


EEV.    GEORGE  W.    MUSGRAVE.  59 

the  influence  of  his  views  and  the  power  of  his  logic, 
not  only  in  his  own  presbytery  but  throughout  the 
whole  church,  has  been  most  obvious  and  command- 
ing. 

Dr.  Musgrave  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  first 
general  council  of  the  Presbyterian  church  which  met 
in  the  city  of  Edinburg,  Scotland,  two  years  ago  ;  but 
owing  to  his  state  of  health  was  not  able  to  attend. 

He  has  lately  been  engaged  in  the  work  of  the 
Presbyterian  historical  society,  located  in  Philadel- 
phia. As  its  president,  and  chairman  of  its  executive 
committee,  he  has  given  to  its  interests  a  great  deal 
of  thought  and  time,  and  for  the  purpose  of  erecting 
for  its  use  a  fire  proof  building,  has  made  a  very  gen- 
erous pecuniary  contribution.  He  is  also  an  ac- 
tive member  of  the  present  board  of  publication  and 
of  its  business  committee.  But  the  work  in  which 
he  has  latterly  been  most  interested,  is  that  which  is 
thus  sketched  in  a  recent  number  of  the  New  York 
Evangelist : — 

"Two  years  ago  on  a  summer  visit  to  the  town  of 
Bethleham,  Pa.,  Dr.  Musgrave  found  a  little  band 
organized  into  a  Presbyterian  church  under  the  pas- 
toral care  of  Rev.  A.  D.  Moore.  They  were  strug- 
gling along  amid  great  disadvantages,  having  no 
church  edifice  of  their  own,  and  being  compelled  to 
worship  in  a  little  cabin  at  a  place  difficult  of  access, 
in  a  somewhat  out  of  the  way  neighborhood.  The 
doctor  worshipped  with,  preached  for,  and  became 
interested  in  them ;  and  before  he  left  made  them  an 


60  REV.    GEORGE  W.    MUSGRAVE. 

offer  of  aid  in  purchasing  a  lot  in  an  eligible  site,  and 
building  a  chapel  thereon.  The  offer  was  accepted, 
a  lot  was  purchased,  the  cornerstone  of  the  chapel 
was  laid  in  the  month  of  October  following,  and  on 
the  first  sabbath  of  April,  the  building  was  ready  for 
occupancy  and  dedicated — a  large,  commodious  and 
beautiful  edifice,  every  way  adapted  to  the  wants  of 
the  young  church  and  of  the  community  in  which  it 
is  located.  The  whole  cost  was  about  $7,000,  a 
large  portion  of  which  sum  was  contributed  by  the 
venerable  doctor,  and  on  the  chapel  not  a  dollar  of 
indebtedness  remained.  It  bears  the  inscription, 
"Musgrave  Chapel  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church, 
Bethleham." 

But  this  was  by  no  means  all.  The  doctor's  inter- 
est in  the  church  has  continued  and  increased,  and 
during  the  vacation  season  just  ended  he  has  given 
very  substantial  indication  of  the  fact.  With  a  view 
of  providing  for  the  future,  he  purchased  for  them 
two  additional  lots  of  ground,  one  on  the  north,  the 
other  on  the  east  of  the  chapel ,  thus  securing  plenty 
of  space  for  the  building  of  the  main  church  edifice, 
when  that  shall  be  necessary.  And  last,  not  least,  he 
has  furnished,  as  a  free  gift,  the  entire  means  to  ena- 
ble the  church  to  purchase  a  substantial  and  comfort- 
able manse  for  their  pastor,  which  is  now  free  of  in- 
cumbrance,  and  belongs  to  them. 

In  all  this  Dr.  Musgrave  has  been  doing  a  good,  a 
noble  work  ;  and  his  many  friends  will  surely  be  glad 
to  know,  that  the  days  of  his  advancing  years  are 


REV.    GEORGE   W.    MUSGRAVE.  61 

made  happy  in  the  performance  of  such  labors  of  love." 
As  might  be  supposed  from  his  grandfather's  ex- 
ample and  teachings  Dr.  Musgrave  has  always  been 
an  ardent  lover  of  his  country  and  its  unity.  His 
personal  appearance  is  striking.  Above  the  aver- 
age height  he  his  proportionally  stout,  standing 
erect  with  a  well  set  compact  frame.  His  step  is 
firm  and  his  movements  are  deliberate.  The  contour 
of  his  head  and  face  is  something  of  the  Greek  order. 
His  complexion  is  florid  and  his  countenance  beams 
with  intelligence  and  benignity.  His  manners  also 
have  the  frankness  and  simplicity,  and  the  polish  of 
a  gentleman  of  times  gone  bye. 

His  commanding  influence  and  power  it  is  not  diffi- 
cult to  account  for.  A  very  little  reflection  will  re- 
veal, and  a  few  words  indicate  in  what  they  consist 
and  wherein  they  lie.  First  of  all  his  sincere  piety, 
next  his  great  gift  in  conversation,  preaching  and 
prayer ;  then  his  devotion  to  pure  Calvinism  and 
thorough  yet  catholic  Presbyterianism ;  added  to 
these  must  be  his  faultless  logical  processes,  and  his 
full  knowledge  of  parliamentary  law  and  practice ; 
then  further  his  indomitable  energy,  which  has  ena- 
bled him  for  years  to  triumph  over  partial  blindness 
and  other  intirmaties  ;  and  last,  not  least,  his  powers 
of  debate,  which,  in  the  estimation  of  deliberative 
bodies,  either  ecclesiastical  or  secular,  havo  been  sel- 
dom equalled  and  rarely  excelled.  He  is  a  born 
leader  of  men  and,  in  a  sense  of  course  secondary  to 


62  BEV.    GEORGE   W.    MUSGRAVE. 

that  in  which  the  words  are  used  in  Holy  Writ,  a 
"master  of  assemblies." 

Such  is  our  brief  and  imperfect  sketch  of  this  emi- 
nent and  useful  minister   of  God.     The   Rev.    Dr. 
Montfort  in  the  Herald  and  Presbyter  said  of  him  : 
"He  has  had  all   the   honors   of  his   branch   of  the 
church.     The  only  honorary  degree  possesed  by  his 
brethren  generally  to  which  he  has  not  attained   is 
that  of  being  'the  husband  of  one  wife' :    he  never 
married.     But  notwithstanding  this,  as  in  the  case 
of  a  more  eminent  servant  of  the  church,  he  has   not 
been  a  whit  behind  the    chiefest   modern    apostle. 
And  it  may  be  added  that  though  in  "single  blessed- 
ness'^ ?)  possesed  of  a  competent  income  he  lives  in  a 
home    as    comfortable   as  most  homes,  at   No.    40 
North  llth  St.,  Philadelphia,  where  with  no  stinted 
hand  he  practices  toward  all  who  will  accept  of  it, 
the  hospitality  of  a  bishop.     It  cannot  be  said  that 
"his  sight  is  not  dim,"  but  his  "natural  force,"  even 
at  the  age  of  three  score  and  fifteen,  "is  not"  much 
"abated."    His  counsel   is   now  more  sought  than 
ever  by  the  highest  and  the  lowest  in  the  Presbyterian 
denomination  ;  and  surrounded  and  revered  by  a  host 
of  warm  friends,  it  is  earnestly  hoped  by  thousands, 
that  he  may  be  spared  to  the  church  and  the  world, 
not  only  to  celebrate  his  Semi   Centennial   in    the 
General  Assembly  of  1881 — a  thing  which  he  looks 
forward  to  with  pleasant  hope — but  for  many  year* 
of  continuing  usefulness. 
Having  had  more  than  twenty  years^acquaintance 


KEV.    WILLIAM   T.    EVA.  63 

with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Musgrave,  the  author  is  prepared 
to  say  that,  in  the  foregoing  sketch  of  his  life,  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Eva,  his  character  and  services  to  the  church 
and  community  have  not  been  overstated. 


REV.    WILLIAM   T.    EVA,    D.  D., 
PRESBYTERIAN. 


[AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL.] 

DR.  EVA  is  the  pastor  of  the  Bethesda  Presbyter- 
ian Church  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  He  belongs 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  Central.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  general  as- 
sembly of  the  Presbyterian  Church  ;  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Presbyterian  house ;  of  the  board  of 
publication  and  chairman  of  its  committee  on  peri- 
odicals ;  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian Hospital  in  Philadelphia ;  the  secretary  of  the 
Philadelphia  Presbyterian  Alliance,  and  chairman  of 
its  committee  on  hospitals,  homes,  etc.  ;  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Presbyterian 
Historical  Society. 

Dr.  Eva  was  born  in  the  little  rural  town  of  Hel- 
stone,  county  of  Cornwall,  England,  in  the  year 
1827.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  the  United 
States  in  1833,  settling  in  Philadelphia.  His  early 
education  was  received  in  the  public  schools  of  that 
city.  He  was  also  a  scholar  in  the  Sabbath  School 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Kensington.  His 


64  REV.    WILLIAM   T.    EVA. 

father  had  been  a  soldier  in  Wellington's  army  in  the 
Spanish  Campaign,  and  his  mother,  a  godly,  devout 
woman,  died  when  he  was  eleven  years  of  age.  He 
was  thus  thrown  upon  the  world  to  begin  in  earnest 
the  battle  of  life.  But  having  a  thirst  for  knowl- 
edge, he 'made  use  of  such  opportunities  as  he  had  in 
diligent  study  aud  reading.  At  the  age  of  thirteen 
he  was  made  a  subject  of  converting  grace  and  united 
with  the  church.  Immediately  his  thoughts  were 
turned  to  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel,  and  he  went  to 
Harford  county,  Maryland,  as  a  student  of  the  Rev. 
John  G.  Witson  of  the  Protestant  Methodist  Church. 
Without  waiting  for  the  completion  of  his  studies,  a 
quarterly  conference  of  that  denomination  licensed 
him  to  preach  the  Gospel  in  the  spring  of  1842  when 
he  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age.  The  next  spring 
he  was  received  into  the  Maryland  annual  conference 
as  atr  avelling  licentiate  preacher.  He  labored  at 
various  points  in  Harford,  Frederick,  Dorchester 
and  Howard  County,  Maryland,  and  in  Washington, 
D.  C.,  preaching  occasionally  in  Baltimore  and 
Philadelphia. 

In  the  years  1848  and  1849  he  was  the  pastor  of 
the  P.  M.  Church  in  the  city  of  Cumberland,  Md. 
Here,  coming  of  age,  he  was  ordained  to  the  Gospel 
Ministry  with  the  laying  on  of  hands  by  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  P.  M.  Conference,  and  the  Rev.  J.  II. 
Symmes,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  In 
Cumberland  a  new  church  edifice  was  built  during  his 
pastorate,  to  collect  funds  for  which  he  canvassed  a 


REV.    WILLIAM   T.    EVA.  65 

large  part  of  the  state  asking  only  one  dollar  sub. 
scriptions.  The  President  of  the  Conference 
preached  the  sermon  at  its  dedication,  and  in  a  writ- 
ten account  of  the  edifice  afterward  said,  referring  to 
the  pastor,  "Some  men  have  monuments  built  by 
others,  but  he  has  built  his  own." 

In  the  spring  of  1850,  Dr.  Eva  was  appointed  to 
the  charge  of  a  church  in  Washington  City,  D.  C. 
Here,  in  connection  with  his  pastoral  labors,  he  en- 
gaged in  teaching,  for  a  time,  as  principal  of  one  of 
the  public  schools,  and  then  as  assistant  teacher  in 
the  Rittenhouse  Academy,  Prof.  O.  C.  Wight, 
Principal.  He  had  for  years  found  his  thoughts  and 
wishes  turning  to  the  Presbyterian  Church.  With 
its  polity  he  was  already  in  unison  and  giving  to  its 
svstem  of  Calvinistic  doctrine,  as  taught  in  the  West- 
minster confession  of  Faith  and  the  catachisms,  a 
thorough  study,  he  was  convinced  that  it  was  both 
scriptural  and  philosophical,  and  was  prepared  to 
adopt  and  subscribe  to  it.  Accordingly,  making  his 
views  and  desires  known  to  the  Rev.  John  C.  Smith, 
D.  D.,  then  the  devoted  and  successful  pastor  of  the 
fourth  church,  Washington,  through  his  kind  officers 
was  introduced  to  the  Presbytery  of  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, and  after  examination  received  as  a  member 
of  that  body,  in  April,  1852.  At  its  next  com- 
mencement, he  being  present  and  making  a  master's 
oration,  the  college  of  Delaware  conferred  upon  him 
the  degree  of  master  of  arts. 

Immediately  upon  his  reception  into  Presbytery  he 


66  REV.    WILLIAM    T.    EVA. 

jeceived  an  invitation  to  supply  the  pulpit  of  the 
Rockville  and  Bethesda  church,  a  few  miles  from 
Washington.  In  a  short  time  he  was  called  to  the 
pastorate,  and  duly  installed.  This  post  he  occupied  for 
six  years,  blessed  with  constant  revivals,  and  adding 
many  to  the  church.  A  new  church  edifice  was  also 
projected  and  begun  in  the  town  of  Rockville ;  but 
the  region  being  largely  pro-slavery,  and  the  facili- 
ties for  the  education  of  children  being  scant,  he 
thought  it  his  duty  to  leave.  Accordingly  in  the  fall 
of  1857  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  sixth  Presbyterian 
church  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  where  he  labored  for  three 
years,  receiving  a  call  in  October,  I860,  to  be  suc- 
cessor of  the  beloved  and  venerable  Rev.  George 
Chandler,  in  the  pastorate  of  the  first  Presbyterian 
church,  Kensington,  Philadelphia.  There  were  pe- 
culiar circumstances  of  an  interesting  character  con- 
nected with  this  call,  which  power  fully  aided  in  pro- 
ducing the  conviction  that  it  was  providential.  It  was 
of  course  accepted,  and  the  pastoral  relation  was 
formed.  The  field  proved  to  be  a  large,  laborious 
and  fruitful  one — the  times  were  eventful.  It  was 
one  of  those  churches,  which,  following  the  lead  of 
its  pastor,  did  its  share  in  those  times  of  its  country's 
peril.  The  pastor  aimed  to  preach  the  gospel  with 
such  ability  as  God  gave  him.  The  result  was  that 
in  the  course  of  six  years  the  800  communicants  had 
increased  to  1100.  Then  the  thought  of  ''colonizing" 
was  broached.  The  Presbytery  (Philadelphia  fourth), 
on  the  motion  of  the  Rev.  Albert  Barnes,  urgently 


REV.    WILLIAM   T.    EVA.  67 

seconded  it,  and  knowing  that  the  pastor  was  ready 
for  such  a  movement,  passed  a  resolution  requesting 
him  to  lead  out  as  many  as  would  go,  and  organize  in 
a  destitute  locality  about  a  mile  distant,  a  new  church. 
With  alacrity  he  responded ;  a  considerable  number 
of  the  members  accompanied  him,  and  in  November, 
1867,  the  church  which,  according  to  his  desire,  was 
named  Bethesda,  was  organized,  he  being  chosen  its 
pastor.  The  result  is  in  one  of  the  Philadelphia  daily 
secular  papers  thus  indicated  : — 

"The  twelfth  anniversary  of  the  Bethesda  Presby- 
terian church  and  Sabbath  school  of  this  city  was  cel- 
ebrated last  Sunday.  In  the  morning  the  pastor, 
Rev.  W.  T.  Eva,  D.  D.,  preached  an  appropriate 
sermon,  presenting  the  following  items :  Twelve 
years  ago  the  church  was  organized  with  180  persons. 
Since  then  800  have  been  received.  The  church 
property  cost  $70,000,  on  which  $55,000  have  been 
raised.  There  is  no  mortgage  on  the  church,  But  a 
ground  rent  of  $11,000  and  a  floating  debt  of  less  than 
$4,000  ;  $55,000  have  been  received  for  the  current 
expenses  of  the  church,  and  $10,000  for  missionary 
and  benevolent  purposes,  making  in  all  $120,000. 
The  present  membership  is  720,  and  there  are  200 
pewholders.  The  ladies  and  Sabbath  school  support 
a  missionary  among  the  Indians.  In  the  afternoon 
the  Sabbath  school  anniversary  exercises  were  heldin 
the  presence  of  a  congregation  that  filled  the  audi- 
ence room  to  its  utmost  capacity." 

Dr.  Eva  was  married  in  March,  1847,  to  Anna  M., 


68  EEV.    WILLIAM   T.    EVA. 

daughter  of  Roland  Rogers,  Esq.,  of  Harford  County, 
Maryland.  He  was  formerly  in  connection  with  the 
branch  of  the  Presbyterian  church  known  as  "new 
school."  With  the  first  movement  toward  "reunion" 
he  was  identified,  being  a  member,  and  one  of  the 
secretaries  of  the  Presbyterian  National  Union  con- 
vention, which  met  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  in 
Nov.,  1867.  After  the  reunion  was  consummated 
he  was  made  the  first  moderator  of  the  reconstructed 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  Central.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  several  general  assemblies,  and  was  one 
of  the  clerks  of  the  general  assembly  in  Chicago,  in 
1871.  By  a  unanimous  vote  the  trustees  of  the  col- 
lege of  New  Jersey  (Princeton)  in  1877,  conferred 
upon  him  the  honorary  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 
He  Avas  also  appointed  a  corresponding  member  of 
the  first  general  council  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
which  met  in  the  city  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  the 
same  year,  though  he  was  unable  to  attend  the 
meetings  of  the  body. 

Among  the  privileges  of  his  life,  Dr.  Eva  counts 
that  of  the  acquaintanceship  and  kind  interest  of  that 
distinguished  servant  of  God  and  minister  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  the  Rev.  George  AY.  MusgraVe, 
D.  D.,  LL.D.,  and  this  sketch  cannot  be  better 
closed  than  with  the  following  estimate  from  his  pen  : 

"I  first  became  personally  acquainted  with  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Eva  in  1870,  when  by  the  reconstruction  of 
the  synods  and  Presbyteries  of  the  re-united  Presby- 
rian  church,  we  were  brought  together  as  members 


REV.    WILLIAM   T.    EVA.  69 

of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  Central.  Since 
then  my  personal  relations  with  him  have  become  in- 
timate, for  the  more  I  have  seen  and  known  of  him 
the  more  I  have  respected  and  esteemed  him. 

Dr.  Eva  has  naturally  a  clear  and  strong  mind ; 
and  as  he  has  been  a  diligent  and  systematic  student, 
his  acquirements  are  both  extensive  and  varied.  He 
is  tall  in  person  and  well  made,  courteous  in  his 
manners,  and  of  a  social,  kind  and  generous  disposi- 
tion. As  a  preacher  he  is  eminently  evangelical,  in- 
sturctive  and  eloquent.  His  power  in  the  pulpit  is 
evinced  by  the  large  and  interested  audiences  which 
habitually  wait  upon  his  ministry.  A  professional 
gentleman  who  heard  him  preach  last  summer,  re- 
marked that  "it  would  be  worth  travelling  a  hun- 
dred miles  to  hear  that  sermon."  As  a  pastor  he  has 
been  active,  faithful  and  indefatigable.  His  success 
and  usefulness  may  be  estimated  by  the  multitude  of 
professed  converts  he  has  gathered  into  the  church. 

He  is  a  leading  member  of  Presbytery,  and  in  de- 
bate is  ready,  clear,  logical  and  cogent.  He  is  also 
highly  useful  as  a  member  of  the  many  church 
boards  and  institutions  with  which  he  is  connected. 
Indeed  he  is  one  of  the  most  active  and  useful  of 
our  city  ministers,  always  ready  to  co-operate  in  ev- 
ery good  work.  Above  all,  I  believe  him  to  be  a 
conscientious,  consistent,  and  devoted  Christian.  He 
has  the  best  wishes  of  all  who  know  him,  and  their 
earnest  prayers  that  his  useful  life  may  be  long 
spared  to  be  a  blessing  to  the  church  and  the  world." 


70  REV.    STETSON   RAYMOND. 

REV.    STETSON    RAYMOND,    CONGREGA- 
TIONALIST. 


REV.  STETSON  RAYMOND  was  born  in  Middleboro, 
Mass.,  March  16th,  1787.  He  died  Nov.  21st,  1864, 
He  was  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Joanna  (Bryant)  Ray- 
mond, and  maternal  grandson  of  Rev.  Samuel  Fuller, 
first  minister  of  Middleboro.  He  was  prepared  for 
college  at  Boscowen  N.  H. .  and  graduated  at  Brown 
University,  in  1814.  He  studied  Theology  first  with 
Rev.  Otis  Thompson  of  Rehobeth,  Mass,  and  after- 
wards with  Dr.  Emmons,  of  Franklin.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Mendon  Association,  and 
ordained  and  installed  minister  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Chatham,  Mass.,  April  19th,  1817,  where 
he  remained  twelve  years.  In  1829  he  removed 
from  Chatham  to  Freetown,  and  was  pastor  of  the 
church  there  for  seven  years.  After  leaving  Free- 
town he  was  settled  at  Bridgewater  until  1851,  when 
he  resigned  on  account  of  feeble  health. 

In  1818  he  married  Deborah,  daughter  of  Eliot 
Loud  of  Weymouth,  who  died  Feb.  7th,  1859. 

Mr.  Raymond  was  of  the  Hopkinsion  school, 
thoroughly  Orthodox,  He  was  of  a  mild  and  quiet 
disposition,  a  good  pastor,  husband  and  father.  His 
sermons  were  carefully  prepared,  and  generally  writ- 
ten out  in  full,  as  was  the  usual  custom  of  Con- 
gregational ministers  of  his  day.  Like  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Emmons  and  Rev.  Otis  Thompson,  his  preceptors  in 


REV.    STETSON   RAYMOND.  7l 

theology,  he  was  always  opposed  to  slavery ;  and 
numbered  among  the  early  abolitionists.  His  long- 
est pastorate,  as  stated  above,  was  at  Chatham ; 
where  he  was  esteemed  and  loved  as  a  faithful  shep- 
herd. He  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of 
whom  are  living:. 


EEV.  HENRY  MARTIN  DEXTER,  D.  D. 


HE  received  the  honorary  degree  of  D.  D.  from 
Iowa  College  in  1865,  Pastor,  1849-67,  of  what  is 
now  the  Berkeley  St.  Congregational  Church,  Boston. 
Born  in  Plympton,  Mass.,  13th  of  August,  1821, 
and  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Elijah  Dexter  who  was 
the  worthypastor  of  the  Congregational  church  of  this 
town  for  many  years.  He  graduated  from  Yale  col- 
lege in  1840,  and  Theological  Seminary,  at  Andover, 
Mass.,  in  1844.  Descended  from  farmer  Thomas 
Dexter  of  Lynn,  and  Geo.  Morton  of  Plymouth. 
Pastor  of  the  Franklin  Street  Church,  Manchester, 
N.  H. ,  1844-9.  He  has  published  "Street  Thoughts," 
1859;  "Twelve  Discourses,"  1860;  "Future  Punish- 
ment," and  "Congregationalism."  Editor  of  "Church's 
Philip's  War,"  1865,  and  "Mourt's  Relation,"  1871.  . 

Since  1851  he  has  been  editor  in  chief  of  the  Con- 
yregationalist.  He  became  one  of  the  editors  of  the 
Congregational  Quarterly  in  1858.  In  1876  he  pub- 
lished "Roger  Williams,  and  his  banishment  from 
the  Massachusetts  Colony."  He  has  just  published, 


72         HENRY  MARTIN  DEXTER,  D.  D. 

1880,  "The  Congregationalism  of  the  last  Three  Hun- 
dred Years  as  seen  in  its  Literature,  etc,  and  New 
Rule." 

This  book  on  Congregationalism  is  Dr.  Dexter's 
great  work.  It  contains  1,000  octavo  pages.  Time 
spent  for  gathering  materials  for  such  a  work  must 
have  been  long ;  and  the  labor  of  compiling  it  im- 
mense. It  contains  more  information  on  Congrega- 
tionalism than  can  be  found  in  any  other,  indeed  in 
all  other  volumes  ;  and  Dr.  Dexter  is  well  entitled  to 
the  thanks  of  the  denomination  for  collecting  togeth- 
er in  one  volume  so  much  of  its  literature  and  sta- 
tistics. The  work  has  been  highly  reccommended  by 
the  universal  press. 


CHAPTEE  IY. 


EEV.    CALVIN    PAEK,    D.    D. 


[WRITTEN  BY  HIS  SON,  REV.  CALVIN  E.  PARK.    SUPER- 
VISED BY  REV.  PROF.  E.  A.  PARK,  D.  D.] 

PROF.  CALVIN  PARK,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  North- 
bridge,  Mass.,  Sept.  11,  1774.  He  was  the  son  of 
Nathan  and  Mrs.  Ruth  (Bannister)  Park.  His  ances- 
try can  be  traced  back  to  a  very  remote  period.  His 
first  known  ancestor  was  Edward  Park,  a  merchant 
resident  in  London,  who  probably  was  living  during 
the  reign  of  Queen  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Henry 
VIII.  The  second  in  the  series  was  Henry  Park,  also 
a  merchant  resident  in  London.  The  third  in  the 
series  was  Richard  Park.  He  emigrated  to  this  coun- 
try. He  probably  was  one  of  the  company  who  came 
over  in  1628,  and  settled  the  district  around  Boston. 
He  is  known  to  have  been  a  land  owner  in  Cambridge 
in  1636.  In  1647  he  crossed  Charles  river,  and  took 
up  his  residence  in  what  is  now  Newton.  He  ulti- 
mately came  into  possession  of  a  large  tract  of  land, 
including  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  Eliot  church 


74  REV.    CALVIN   PARK,    D.    D. 

in  that  town.     His  house  was  on  the  present  site  of 
the  church. 

Dr.  Park's  father  was  a  farmer  in  moderate  circum- 
stances. It  was  necessary  that  during  his  boyhood 
the  son  should  be  employed  in  the  usual  labors  of  the 
farm.  He  was  influenced  to  attempt  to  get  a  liberal 
education  by  the  example  of  his  elder  brother  Thomas, 
who  had  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1789. 
This  brother  afterwards  became  professor  of  languages 
in  the  college  of  South  Carolina,  in  Columbia,  where 
he  was  associated  for  many  years  with  Dr.  Jonathan 
Maxcy,  the  second  president  of  Brown  University. 
He  received  the  degree  of  LL.D.  at  Brown  Univer- 
sity. He  died  in  18 -it  in  Columbia.  Before  com- 
mencing his  preparatory  studies,  Dr.  Park  had  become 
a  Christian,  and  he  had  discovered  a  love  of  learning 
and  an  aptitude  for  its  acquisition  such  as  would  jus- 
tify him,  and  prompt  his  friends  and  especially  his 
pastor,  Dr.  John  Crane,  to  encourage  him  in  entering 
on  a  student's  career. 

At  that  time  there  were  no  collegiate  charitable 
societies.  Wealthy  men  were  not  used  then,  as  is 
now  somewhat  often  the  case,  to  aid  young  men  not 
related  to  themselves,  in  getting  an  education.  Dr. 
Park  was  not  at  liberty,  at  least  during  his  prepara- 
tory studies  which  he  pursued  under  the  direction  of 
Dr.  Crane  of  Northbridgo,  to  devote  himself  exclu- 
sively to  his  books.  He  was  still  under  the  necessity 
of  laboring  to  some  extent  as  a  farmer.  Once,  while 
driving  a  load  of  wood  through  one  of  the  streets  of 


REV.    CALVIN   PARK,    D.    D.  75 

Boston,  he  halted  his  team,  and,  going  into  a  book- 
store, asked  for  a  copy  of  Virgil  that  he  might  verify 
the  translation  of  a  certain  passage  on  which  he  had 
been  busied.  In  a  similar  way  he  often  intermingled 
study  and  business. 

He  entered  Brown  University  in  1793  at  the  age  of 
nineteen.  When  he  became  a  member  of  it,  it  had 
been  in  existence  about  twenty-nine  years.  Its  pres- 
ident was  Dr.  Jonathan  Maxcy,  a  man  of  commanding 
intellect,  of  rare  scholarship,  and,  in  every  way,  of  a 
very  attractive  character.  This,  indeed,  must  have 
been  the  case  ;  else  we  cannot  explain  his  being  elected 
on  the  death  of  Dr.  Manning,  the  founder  of  the  col- 
lege, in  1792,  to  fill  the  office  of  president  when  he 
was  only  twenty-four  years  of  age.  Among  the  pro- 
fessors, were  Benjamin  West  in  the  chair  of  Mathe- 
matics, and  David  Howell  in  that  of  Jurisprudence. 
The  latter  was,  for  many  years,  eminent  as  a  lawyer 
and  a 'United  States  District  Judge.  Dr.  Asa  Mes- 
ser  was  one  of  the  tutors.  The  onlv  building1  then 

»/  o 

erected  served  as  dormitory,  chapel,  library  apart- 
ment, and  refectory.  Dr.  Manning  described  it  as 
"an  elegant  brick  edifice,"  and  it  certainly  "com- 
manded an  agreeable  and  extensive  prospect."  Its 
librar}'  now  contains  not  far  from  forty  thousand  vol- 
umes, and  is  lodged  in  a  building  noted  not  perhaps 
for  its  architectural  splendor  but  for  its  spacious 
dimensions,  and  its  fitness  for  all  the  purposes  of  an 
extensive  library.  In  1782,  eleven  years  before  Dr. 
Park  entered  college,  the  library  is  described  by 


76  REV.    CALVIN   PARK,    D.    D. 

President  Manning,  "  as  consisting  of  about  five  hun- 
dred volumes,  most  of  which  are  both  very  ancient,  and 
very  useless  as  well  as  unsightly."  In  1793  it  had 
become  somewhat  larger,  but  even  then  it  did  not 
contain  more  than  three  thousand  volumes,  and  was 
kept  in  a  comparatively  small  and  gloomy  apartment 
in  University  Hall.  As  to  cabinets  and  philosophical 
apparatus,  they  were  in  1793  among  the  things  of  the 
remote  future.  The  number  of  students  was  less  than 
a  hundred ;  a  number  not  much  larger  than  that  of  a 
single  graduating  class  of  the  present  day.  It  may 
perhaps,  be  regarded  as  a  somewhat  alleviating  feat- 
ure in  this  description  that  the  tuition  in  1793  was 
but  twelve  dollars  a  year,  and  board  but  one  dollar  a 
week. 

Among  Dr.  Park's  contemporaries  in  college  were 
such  men  as  Tristam  Burgess  and  John  Holmes,  both 
of  them  afterwards  eminent  as  lawyers  and  members 
of  Congress  ;  William  Baylies  and  James  Tallmadge, 
the  former  a  member  of  Congress  from  Massachusetts, 
and  the  latter  from  New  York.  One  of  his  classmates 
was  Hon.  Jairus  Ware  of  Massachusetts,  whose  sister 
he  afterwards  married,  and  who  was  at  one  time  a 
member  of  Gov.  Lincoln's  executive  council,  and  a 
judge  in  one  of  the  state  courts. 

One  of  Dr.  Park's  classmates  and  particular  friends 
was  Benjamin  Allen,  afterwards  a  professor  in  Union 
college,  and  subsequently  in  a  college  in  Pennsylva- 
nia. Three  others  of  his  classmates  became  members 
of  Congress,  James  Ervin,  John  Baldwin  and  Horace 


REV.    CALVIN   PARK,    D.    D.  77 

Everett.  His  class  consisted  of  only  twenty-three 
men.  The  part  assigned  him  at  his  graduation  was 
an  intermediate  oration.  Its  subject  was  "The  love 
of  power  considered  as  a  principle  of  action."  He 
took  the  degree  of  master  of  arts  after  the  usual  inter- 
val, and  in  1818  received  what  was  then  the  rare  honor 
of  a  doctorate  of  divinity.  He  studied  Theology 
under  the  direction  of  his  life-long  friend,  Rev.  Dr. 
Austin,  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Old  South  Church 
in  Worcester,  and  at  a  subsequent  period,  president 
of  the  University  of  Vermont. 

While  engaged  in  his  theological  studies  he  was  also 
employed  as  a  teacher  of  a  school  in  Worcester.  The 
building  in  which  he  taught  was  situated  on  Main  st. , 
not  far  from  the  site  of  the  Central  church.  Among 
his  pupils  was  Levi  Lincoln  who  afterwards,  for  so 
many  years  was  Governor  of  Massachusets.  Dr. 
Park  is  distinctly  remembered  as  visiting,  along  with 
Dr.  Austin,  in  the  family  of  Rev.  Joseph  Pope  of 
Spencer,  whose  grand-daughter  was,  about  fifty  years 
afterwards,  married  to  one  of  Dr.  Park's  sons,  and  is 
the  mother  of  Rev.  Charles  Ware  Park,  a  missionary 
of  Bombay.  After  his  removal  to  Providence,  Dr. 
Park  continued  his  theological  studies  under  the  care 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Nathaniel  Emmons,  of  Franklin,  a  brother 
in-law  of  Dr.  Austin.  Probably  no  man  exerted  a 
more  powerfully  moulding  influence  over  the  young 
man's  character  as  a  theologian  and  a  preacher  than 
did  Dr.  Emmons.  He  often  said  that  Dr.  Emmons 
had  given  him  his  most  inspiriting  thoughts. 


78  REV.    CALVIN   PARK,    D.    D. 

In  the  year  1800,  three  years  after  his  graduation, 
Dr.  Park  was  appointed  tutor  in  Brown  Univea- 
sity.  His  roommate  at  this  time  was  Dr.  Asa  Mes- 
ser.  His  associate  in  the  tutorship  was  Moses  Mil- 
ler, for  many  years  the  respected  pastor  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  in  Heath,  Mass.  The  president 
of  the  college  was  Dr.  Maxcy,  who  resigned  in  1802, 
becoming  president  of  Union  college,  Schenectady, 
and  ultimately  of  South  Carolina  college.  His  sue-, 
cessor  in  the  presidency  was  Dr.  Asa  Messer.  Dr. 
Park  became  professor  of  languages  in  1804,  and 
professor  of  moral  philosophy  and  metaphysics  in 
1811.  He  closed  his  connection  with  the  college  in 
1825,  having  been  connected  with  it  as  a  teacher  in 
different  departments  twenty-five  years,  and  as  a  pupil 
four  years  ; — twenty-nine  years  in  all. 

Brown  University,  although  it  was  so  far  under  the 
control  of  the  Baptist  denomination  that  its  president 
and  a  majority  of  its  trustees  were  required  to  be  Bap- 
tists, was  yet  resorted  to  by  many  young  men  from 
Connecticut,  and  that  part  of  Massachusetts  which  is 
contiguous  to  Rhode  Island,  who  were  not  Baptists, 
and  who  afterwards  became  Congregational  ministers. 
It  was  very  natural  that  in  this  class  of  students,  Dr. 
Park,  being  himself  a  Congregationalist,  should  feel 
a  peculiar  interest.  He  thus  aided  in  the  training  of 
not  a  few  men  who  afterwards  became  eminent  as 
preachers  and  in  this  way  he  indirectly  but  powerfully 
influenced  the  religious  character  of  New  England. 

Among  these  were  such  men  as  Dr.  Joel  Hawes, 


REV.    CALVIN   PARK,    D.    D.  79 

of  Hartford;  Dr.  Jacob  Ide,  of  Med  way  ;  Dr.  Enoch 
Pond,  of  Bangor  theological  seminary ;  Dr.  Willard 
Pieston,  at  onetime  Pastor  of  the  Pacific  Congrega- 
tional church  in  Providence  and  aftewards  president 
of  a  college  in  Georgia ;  Dr.  Ebenezer  Burgess  of 
Dedham  ;  and  Rev.  Cyrus  Kingsbury,  one  of  the  early 
missionaries  to  the  Choctaw  Indians.  There  may  be 
added  to  the  list  the  name  of  Wilbur  Fisk,  president 
of  the  Wesleyan  University  in  Middletown,  Connect- 
icut ;  Rev.  James  M.  Winchell,  pastor  of  a  Baptist 
church  in  Boston,  and  remembered  as  a  friend  and 
fellow-worker  with  the  lamented  Jedediah  Hunting- 
ton  ;  Dr.  Adoniram  Judson,  the  eminent  Baptist 
missionary  in  Burmah  was  also  a  student  during  Dr. 
Park's  professorship,  and  for  quite  a  length  of  time  a 
member  of  his  family,  as  was  also  Rev.  Dr.  John  L. 
Blake,  the  author  of  the  Biographical  Dictionary,  etc. 
Not  a  few  distinguished  civilians  and  jurists  are 
enumerated  among  his  pupils.  Prominent  among 
them  were  Judges  Marcus  Morton  and  Theron  Met- 
calf,  the  latter  of  whom  was  wont  to  say  that  he  was 
indebted  to  no  one  of  his  instructors  in  the  formation 
of  his  intellectual  character,  so  much  as  to  Dr.  Park ; 
John  Bailey,  a  member  of  Congress  between  whom 
and  Dr.  Park  there  subsisted  a  peculiarly  strong  attach- 
ment ;  Lucas  Drury  and  Job  Durfee,  both  judges  of 
the  Supreme  court  of  Rhode  Island  ;  William  R.  Sta- 
ples, a  judge  of  the  same  court,  and  scarcely  less 
eminent  as  an  antiquarian  ;  Levi  Halle,  also  judge  of 
the  Supreme  court ;  William  L.  Marcy  of  New  York, 


80  REV.    CALVIN   PARK,    D.    D. 

afterwards  so  distinguished  as  a  United  States  Sena- 
tor, and  a  member  of  President  Pierce's  cabinet. 
Among  his  pupils  were  also  the  eminent  educators, 
Horace  Mann,  Barnas  Sears,  and  Alexis  Caswell,  the 
last  two  named  being  distinguished  as  presidents  of 
Brown  University.  The  whole  number  of  Dr.  Park's 
pupils  in  the  college  was  more  than  seven  hundred. 

After  Dr.  Park  had  become  a  professor  in  the  col- 
lege, it  was  thought  advisable  that  he  should  be 
ordained  as  an  Evangelist,  and  thus  be  qualified  to 
perform  pastoral  duties  for  destitute  churches  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Providence.  His  ordination  took 
place  at  Franklin,  Massachusetts,  May  17,  1815.  A 
noteworthy  fact  about  this  ordination  is,  that  it  was 
performed  by  the  Mendon  Association,  acting  simply 
as  a  body  of  ministers  and  not  as  pastors  under  the 
authority  of  churches,  and  in  the  form  of  a  council. 
That  Dr.  Emmons,  who  always  contended  so  strenu- 
ously for  the  independence  of  the  churches,  and  was 
wont  to  frown  upon  everything  which  wore  even  the 
appearance  of  an  assumption  of  ecclesiastical  power  on 
the  part  of  the  ministers,  should  have  taken  so  prom- 
inent a  part  in  this  ordination  is  an  instance  of  his 
independent  spirit. 

The  sermon  on  this  occasion  was  preached  by  Dr. 
John  Crane  of  Northbridge.  Dr.  Park  was  one  of 
more  than  one  hundred  young  men  whom  Dr.  Crane 
had  prepared  for  college.  Several  of  these,  as  Judge 
Theron  Metcalf,  obtained  eminence  in  life.  The  text 
of  the  sermon  was  II  Thess.  iii,  1.  Its  topic  was  the 


REV.    CALVIN   PARK,    D.    D.  81 

duty  of  praying  for  ministers.  It  was  printed,  not  at 
the  request  of  the  association,  but  that  of  the  theological 
society  of  Brown  University.  The  charge  was  given  by 
Dr.  Emmons.  This  charge  was  conceived  in  its  author's 
happiest  vein.  In  respect  to  its  literary  execution, 
he  seldom,  if  ever,  surpassed  it.  One  cannot  but 
notice  how  the  same  evils  over  which  good  men  now 
mourn  as  existing  to  a  degree  never  before  equalled 
existed  then.  Dr.  Emmons  says  in  his  sermon : 
"  Never  was  there  a  time  when  the  Gospel  was  more 
generally  despised,  or  more  basely  betrayed,  or  more 
artfully  and  vigorously  opposed  than  at  this  moment," 
He  says  that  the  practice  of  admitting  to  the  Lord's 
Table  those  who  did  not  even  profess  to  have  met 
with  the  requisite  change  of  character,  "like  a  worm 
at  the  root  of  the  churches  is  imperceptibly  and  rapidly 
destroying  their  peace,  their  purity,  their  visability  ; 
and  even  existence." 

While  Dr.  Park  occupied  the  chair  as  professor  in 
the  college,  he  performed  pastoral  duties  in  East 
Greenwich,  Johnson,  and  the  city  of  Providence. 
The  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Slaters- 
ville,  R.  I.,  says,  in  a  discourse  published  in  1867  : 
"Among  those  who,  during  the  first  nineteen  years 
of  the  existence  of  the  church,  labored  with  special 
acceptance,  and  whose  labors  are  still  held  in  grate- 
ful remembrance,  was  the  Kev.  Dr.  Calvin  Park  of 
Providence.  He  was  accustomed  frequently  to  ride 
out  from  the  city  after  his  professional  labors  of  the 
week  in  the  University,  and  here,  upon  the  Sabbath, 


82  REV.    CALVIN  PARK,    D,    D. 

preach  and  administer  the  ordinances  of  the  church, 
laboring  not  in  vain  to  strengthen  the  things  which 
remained." 

Dr.  Park  was  active  in  promoting  the  religious 
interests  of  Brown  University.  Students  often  came 
to  his  room  for  devotional  exercises,  and  sometimes 
they  crowded  the  room  to  its  utmost  capacity.  Many 
of  his  pupils  still  recall  these  meetings  with  gratitude. 
He  directed  the  theological  studies  of  twelve  or  more 
of  his  college  pupils  after  their  graduation.  Among 
these  may  be  particularly  mentioned  the  name  of 
Rev.  John  Pierce  of  the  class  of  1822,  who  was  after- 
wards employed  as  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools 
in  Michigan,  in  which  station  he  performed  very  val- 
uable educational  work.  Another  of  his  pupils  was 
Rev.  John  Ferguson,  a  Scotchman  who  began  both 
his  classical  and  theological  education  at  quite  a  late 
period  in  his  life.  He  Avas  first  settled  over  a  church 
in  Attleborough,  Mass.,  and  subsequently  over  the 
church  in  Whately.  Though  lacking  the  advantage 
of  a  thorough  training,  he  had  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart  which  gave  him  more  than  usual  pOAver  as  a 
preacher. 

Dr.  Park  resigned  his  professorship  in  1825,  and 
on  the  thirteenth  of  December,  1826,  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  Evangelical  church  in  Stoughton,  Mass. 
Dr.  Nathaniel  Emmons  of  Franklin  preached  the 
sermon.  He  had  uniformly  refused  for  a  long  time 
to  preach  at  ordinations,  and  this  was  the  last  sermon 
that  he  ever  preached  on  any  such  occasion.  He  was 


EEV.    CALVIN   PARK,    D.    D.  83 

then  eighty  one  years  old.  His  text  was  Jeremiah, 
xxiii,  28  :  "The  prophet  that  hath  a  dream  let  him 
tell  a  dream,  and  he  that  hath  my  word  let  him  speak 
my  word  faithfully ;  what  is  the  chaff  to  the  wheat, 
saith  the  Lord."  His  proposition  was  :  "Every  min- 
ister ought  to  preach  the  word  of  God  faithfully." 
His  first  two  heads  were  :  "  first  to  preach  the  word  of 
God  faithfully  implies  that  a  minister  understands  it. 
Second,  he  must  not  only  understand  it,  but  know 
that  he  understands  it.  He  must  be  able  to  distin- 
guish it  from  a  dream."  The  charge  to  the  pastor 
was  given  by  his  life-long  friend,  Eev.  Elisha  Fiskof 
Wrentham,  of  whom  Miss  Hannah  Adams  said  that 
as  Methuselah  was  the  oldest  man  and  Moses  the 
meekest  man,  and  Solomon  the  wisest  man,  so  Par- 
son Fisk  was  the  most  prudent  man.  The  installing 
prayer  was  offered  by  Eev.  Dr.  Storrs  of  Braintree. 
This  prayer  was  characterized  by  an  unction  and  fer- 
vor so  great  as  most  deeply  to  impress  the  audience 
and  cause  it  to  be  long  remembered.  The  right  hand 
of  fellowship  was  given  by  Rev.  Dr.  Burgess  of  Ded- 
ham,  a  pupil  of  Dr.  Park  in  college.  Dr.  Storrs 
remarked  in  1860  concerning  this  installation  :  "Since 
that  day  I  have  never  seen  wine  on  a  table  of  a  coun- 
cil of  ministers.  Just  before  dinner  the  host  said 
with  a  loud  voice  :  '  The  members  of  the  council  will 
now  please  step  to  the  side-board  and  help  them- 
selves to  refreshments.'  Not  a  member  of  the  coun- 
cil rose  for  two  minutes.  At  length  Dr.  Emmons 
started  from  his  seat,  went  to  the  side-board,  poured 


84  REV.    CALVIN   PAEK,    D.    D. 

out  two  tablespoons  full  of  brandy,  mixed  it  with 
water  and  drank  it.  He  then  returned  to  his  chair. 
He  had  probably  been  in  the  habit  of  taking  two 
tablespoons  full  of  brandy  after  any  exhausting  labor 
for  sixty  years.  He  was  too  old  to  give  up  an 
ancient  habit.  He  never  gave  up  his  three-corn- 
ered hat.  The  temperance  reformation  was  then 
just  beginning.  He  was  a  man  for  holding  on  and  not 
for  new  beginnings." 

The  church  in  Stoughtou  was  made  up  of  members 
who  had  withdrawn  from  the  original  church  in  the 
town,  Avhich  had  become  Unitarian.  Dr.  Park  had  a 
marked  fitness  in  his  character  as  a  man  and  preach- 
er for  such  a  situation.  He  had  very  clear  and  deci- 
ded conceptions  of  the  nature  and  value  of  evangeli- 
cal truth,  and  would  not  hesitate  to  announce  that 
truth  with  faithfulness ;  at  the  same  time  he  would 
contend  for  the  faith  without  bitterness.  He  would 
avoid  everything  in  his  sermons,  and  in  his  inter- 
course with  men,  which  was  needlessly  offensive  and 
exasperating. 

His  pastorate  in  Stoughton  lasted  about  thirteen 
years.  The  church  grew  under  his  labors,  and  the 
cause  of  evangelical  truth  was  strengthened.  Though 
by  nature  conservative,  fond  of  the  old  in  preference 
to  the  new,  he  readily  adopted  some  of  the  measures 
for  the  promotion  of  revivals  which  were  then  new. 
A  protracted  meeting  took  place  in  Stoughton  in  the 
winter  of  1831-32  which  resulted  in  quite  a  power- 
ful revival,  and  the  accession  of  a  large  nmnber  of 


REV.    CALVIN   PARK,    D.    D.  85 

members  to  the  church  ;  Dr.  Park  took  an  active  part 
in  meetings  of  this  kind  in  other  places. 

He  also,  while  in  Stoughton,  was  often  a  member 
of  ecclesiastical  councils.  His  experience  and  his 
well  known  prudence  gave  to  his  opinions  on  such 
occasions  much  influence. 

He  closed  his  labors  in  Stoughton  in  1840,  but  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  that  place.  He  preached  from 
time  to  time  in  neighboring  pulpits.  He  rendered 
valuable  service  as  a  member  of  the  school  committee 
of  the  town.  Those  who  were  employed  as  teachers 
in  the  schools,  were  wont  to  allude  in  very  grateful 
terms  to  the  kind  sympathy  and  aid  which  he  gave 
them  in  their  labors. 

He  died  in  Stoughton,  Jan.  5,  1847,  when  a  little 
more  than  seventy  two  years  of  age.  His  death 
was  the  termination  of  a  disease  with  which  he  had 
been  afflicted  for  several  years.  He  had  the  use  of 
his  mental  powers  until  very  near  the  last  hour  :  but 
yet  as  might  have  been  anticipated  from  one  of  his 
temperament,  he  said  but  little.  One  of  his  last  re- 
membered expressions  was  a  declaration  of  the  effect- 
ual support  of  which  he  was  conscious  from  those 
doctrines  which  he  had  so  long  preached. 

At  his  funeral,  prayer  was  offered  by  his  old  friend 
Rev.  Dr.  Hitchcock,  of  Randolph.  The  sermon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Storrs,  of  Braintree,  in  which 
there  was  paid  a  high,  but  not  undeserved  tribute  to 
Dr.  Park's  merits.  His  remains  now  lie,  together 
with  those  of  his  wife,  in  the  cemetery  at  Wrentham. 


#6  REV.  -CALVIN   PARK,    D.    D. 

Dr.  Park  was  married  in  1805  to  Abagail  Ware,  of 
Wrentham.  She  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Rev. 
Samuel  Mann,  the  first  congregational  minister  of 
Wrentham.  She  died  Sept.  21,  1836,  aged  sixty- 
two  years.  They  had  three  sons,  all  of  whom  be- 
came congregational  ministers,  and  one,  Edward  A. 
Park,  professor  of  Theology  in  Andover  Theological 
Seminery. 

Dr.  Park,  though  an  easy  writer,  and  master  of  a 
good  style,  was  not  in  the  habit  of  writing  for  the 
press.  He  published  one  sermon  which  he  preached 
before  the  Norfolk  County  Educational  Society.  For 
four  years  he  was  the  principal  editor  of  the  Christ- 
ian Magazine,  a  monthly  periodical,  published  by  the 
Mendon  Association,  in  which  may  be  found  some 
productions  of  his  pen.  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Doctrinal  Tract  Society,  and  some  of  its  tracts 
were  written  by  him. 

Rev.  Dr.  Storrs,  in  the  sermon  preached  at  the 
funeral  of  Dr.  Park,  thus  expresses  himself:  "A 
great  man,  a  good  man,  a  man  honored  of  God  has 
fallen  in  the  midst  of  you.  Others,  indeed,  have  oc- 
cupied more  elevated  stations  and  stood  higher  in  the 
world's  Qsteem,  and  gathered  around  them  a  larger 
amount  of  withering  honors.  But  few  have  possessed 
nobler  powers  or  warmer  affections  or  a  more  glow- 
ing zeal  for  the  welfare  of  their  generation  ;  all,  how- 
ever, concealed  from  the  eye  of  the  superficial  ob- 
server by  deep  humility  before  God,  and  an  instinc- 
tive shrinking  from  public  gaze.  His  was  no  ob- 


REV.    CALVIN   PARK,    D.    D.  87 

trusive  worth,  no  fitfully  generous  impulse,  no  os- 
tentatious zeal.  How  much  soever  he  might  differ 
from  those  about  him  in  religious  opinions  or  feel- 
ings, he  invaded  the  sanctuary  of  no  man's  heart,  nor 
impugned  his  motives,  nor  sought  his  injury  but  la- 
bored for  his  welfare  and  rejoiced  in  his  prosperity." 

The  late  Ilev.  Jacob  Ide,  D.  D.,  whose  testimony 
alike  from  his  well-known. thorough  discernment,  and 
his  peculiarly  intimate  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Parkas 
an  instructor  and  a  minister  has  a  special  worth,  thus 
speaks  of  him  :  (Sprague's  Annals  of  the  American 
Pulpit,  Vol.  II,  p.  460.)  "There  was  much  that  was 
interesting  in  Dr.  Park  as  a  man.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  sensibility.  No  one  could  be  long  in  his  pres- 
ence without  perceiving  that  he  had  a  soul  that  could 
be  easily  stirred.  His  feelings  were  quick  and  strong, 
but  the  control  which  he  exercised  over  them  was 
peculiar.  As  a  Christian  Dr.  Park  was  highly  es- 
teemed ;  he  maintained  the  same  modest  and  cau- 
tious reserve  with  respect  to  this  subject  which  was 
natural  to  him  in  others.  In  his  prayers  he  appeared 
humble,  devout,  and  solemn  ;  he  seemed  deeply  in- 
terested in  every  thing  that  pertains  to  the  religion  of 
Christ ;  he  loved  the  truth ;  his  religion  seemed  to 
consist  very  much  in  a  cordial  approbation  of  the  de- 
vine  character  and  conduct. 

Dr  Park  was  an  accomplished  scholar  ;  his  mind 
was  one  of  no  ordinary  cast ;  had  he  been  blessed 
with  a  strength  of  nerve  and  confidence  in  himself 
proportioned  to  his  real  talents  and  attainments,  he 


88  REV.    CALVIN  PARK,    D.    D. 

might  have  been  known  as  one  of  the  first  literary 
characters  and  divines  of  the  age  ;  his  taste  was  ex- 
quisite ;  in  the  languages,  he  was  a  critic  of  great  ac- 
curacy and  judgment.  Mental  and  moral  philosophy 
were  among  his  favorite  studies,  and  the  clearness 
and  discrimination  with  which  he  conversed  on  these 
subjects  showed  him  to  be  at  home  in  them. 

As  a  teacher,  Dr.  Park  was  well  known,  and  is 
still  remembered  by  a  great  multitude  of  pupils  with 
respect  and  esteem. 

As  a  preacher,  Dr.  Park  was  not  what  is  generally 
understood  by  the  term  popular.  But  there  was  real 
excellence  both  in  the  matter  and  manner  of  his 
preaching.  His  sermons  were  full  of  thought,  clearly, 
appropriately  and  elegantly  expressed.  He  delivered 
his  sermons  in  a  clear,  distinct,  and  solemn  tone  of 
voice.  Christians  were  greatly  instructed  and  com- 
forted by  his  preaching,  and  it  is  believed  that  not  a 
feAv  of  the  impenitent  were,  by  the  same  instrumental- 
ity, led  to  Christ." 

In  the  history  of  the  Mendon  association,  of  which 
Dr.  Park  during  his  entire  clerical  life  was  a  member, 
he  is  spoken  of  as  follows  :  "As  a  teacher  he  was  apt, 
faithful,  and  thorough.  If  any  under  his  care  were 
not  good  scholars,  the  fault  was  not  in  him.  He  pos- 
sessed a  clear,  discriminating  mind,  and  sound  judg- 
ment. As  to  character  and  habits  he  was  correct, 
stable,  conscientious,  pious,  and  devout.  Although 
he  had  great  sensibility  and  quickness  of  feeling  yet 
his  passions  were  under  control.  His  mind  was  of  a 


KEV.    LEWIS    BATES.  89 

meditative  and  pensive  cast.  As  a  moralist  and 
divine  he  had  no  superior.  He  knew  what,  and  why 
he  believed.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  clear,  definite, 
instructive,  solemn,  and  impressive.  He  fully  and 
faithfully  preached  what  he  believed.  But  few 
preachers  with  his  compass  of  voice,  or  even  with  a 
much  greater,  could  keep  an  audience  more  still  and 
attentive.  He  was  not  a  man  of  noise  and  display  ; 
but  of  sound  thought,  and  close  reasoning.  He  felt, 
and  made  his  hearers  feel." 

[NOTE  BY  THE  AUTHOR.] 

Rev.  Calvin  Park,  D.  D.,  was  my  professor  at 
Brown  University  when  I  was  there.  I  was  also  his 
successor  and  preached  to  him  four  years  at  Stough- 
ton  ;  he  was  all  thatf  his  son  has  said  of  him  in  the 
preceeding  sketch.  I  found  him  an  excellent  parish- 
ioner, always  kind  and  tender  in  his  remarks  and  a 
devoutly  pious  man.  I  boarded  in  his  family  for 
some  time  and  was  an  eye-witness  of  his  domestic  life  ; 
he  was  modest  and  retiring  and  nil  that  I  could  desire 
in  a  parishioner,  who  had  for  many  years  been  the 
faithful  pastor  of  the  same  flock.  W.  M.  C. 


REV.  LEWIS  BATES,  METHODIST. 


REV.  LEWIS  BATES  was  born  in  Cohasset,  Mass., 
March  20,  1780.  He  was  a  descendant,  in  the 
seventh  generation,  of  John  Rogers,  the  martyr.  In 


90  REV.    INCREASE   N.    TARBOX,    D.   D. 

early  life  he  removed  to  Springfield,  Vt.  At  the  age 
of  twelve  years  he  was  converted  to  «God  ;  but  did  not 
unite  with  the  church  until  1802,  when,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years,  he  with  two  others  formed  the  Metho- 
dist church  of  Springfield,  Vt.  Being  deeply  impressed 
by  God's  Spirit  he  began  to  preach  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years,  and  he  continued  for  sixty-three  years,  an 
honered  and  successful  minister  of  the  gospel. 

At  the  age  of  eighty-five  years  he  went  to  his  reward 
from  Taunton  on  March  24,  1865.  During  his  entire 
ministry,  he  was  greatly  honored  of  God  in  bringing 
souls  to  Christ.  In  almost  all  of  his  fields  of  labor, 
extensive  revivals  of  religion  prevailed,  and  many 
scores  and  in  some  of  his  charges  hundreds  of  souls 
were  converted  to  God. 

His  labors  extended  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  from 
the  Kennebec  through  the  midland  towns  and  country 
villages  to  the  banks  of  the  Ohio ;  from  Philadelphia 
in  the  sunny  centre,  to  the  log-cabins  of  Canada  in 
the  snowy  north ;  and  all  along  these  lines  many  rise 
up  and  call  him  blessed.  The  gospel  of  Chirst  to  him 
was  a  glorious  reality. 


REV.    INCREASE    X.    TARBOX,    D.    D., 
COXGREGATIOXALIST. 


REV.  INCREASE  N.  TARBOX  was  born  in  East  Wind- 
sor, Conn.,  Feb.   11,  1815.     He  graduated  at  Yale 


REV.    INCREASE    N.    TARBOX,    D.    D.  91 

college  in  1839.     He  was  tutor  two  years.     He  grad- 
uated at  Yale  Theological  Seminary  in  1844. 

To  those  of  us  who  were  settled  in  Connecticut  at 
the  time  when  the  East  Windsor  theological  seminary 
was  started  and  who  remember  the  excitement  in  that 
state  at  that  time,  it  seemed  singular  that  a  son  of 
East  Windsor  should  go  to  the  theological  seminary 
at  .Yale.  He  was  ordained  and  installed  over  the 
Congregational  church  in  Framingharn,  Mass.,  Nov. 
22,  1844,  and  was  dismissed  June,  1851;  he  was 
chosen  secretary  of  the  American  Education  Society 
in  June,  1851,  which  office  he  still  holds,  [1881.] 

Rev.  Dr.  Tarbox  has  been  somewhat  of  a  prolific 
writer  and  has  given  to  the  public  among  others  the 
following  : — "Missionary  Patriots,  "  "Tyre  and  Alex- 
andria," "Buried  City,  or  Ancient  Ninevah,"  "Uncle 
George's  Stories,"  four  volumes,  "Minnie  and  Wal- 
ter's Stories"  four  volumes,  "Life  of  General  Israel 
Putnam." 

This  last  volume  was  one  that  required  great  labor 
and  much  study.  Dr.  Tarbox  has  done  the  work  well 
and  made  an  interesting  volume  of  ;t. 

These  are  but  a  portion  of  his  writings ;  he  has 
furnished  numerous  articles  for  periodicals  ;  he  is  a 
great  antiquarian  ;  he  has  given  many  lectures  ;  he 
searches  into  antiquity  with  the  zeal  of  Heroditus  and 
holds  on  to  a  subject  with  the  tenacity  of  a  Luther 

Dr.  Tarbox  received  the  honorary  degree  of  doctor 
of  divinity,  from  both  Iowa  and  Yale  colleges,  the 
same  year,  1869. 


92  REV.    BAALIS   SANFORD. 

REV.   BAALIS   SANFORD,    CONGREGATION- 
ALIST. 


REV.  BAALIS  SANFORD  was  born  in  Berkeley,  Mass., 
in  the  year  1800.  He  was  the  youngest  son  of  Capt. 
Joseph  Sanford  of  Berkeley,  who  had  four  sons 
graduated  at  Brown  University,  all  of  whom  be- 
came pastors  of  congregational  churches.  Baalis  had 
every  facility  for  acquiring  a  thorough  education  and 
preparation  for  the  gospel  ministry.  He  was  gradu- 
ated at  Brown  University  in  the  class  of  1823,  and  at 
Andover  Theological  Seminary  in  1826.  After  sup- 
plying various  pulpits  for  a  year  he  was  ordained  and 
installed  pastor  of  the  union  church  of  East  and  West 
Bridgewater,  Oct.  4,  1827  ;  and  continued  pastor 
of  that  church  for  twenty-two  years.  The  society 
then  divided  and  one  part  was  organized  into  the 
Trinitarian  church  of  which  he  became  the  pastor  for 
eleven  years ;  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  ill 
health.  After  this  he  preached  occasionally  for  a  few 
years  ;  but  for  the  last  six  or  eight  years  of  his  life  he 
did  but  little  preaching.  He  worked  a  little  on  his 
farm  and  by  out-door  exercise  restored  his  health  to 
a  comfortable  degree. 

He  married  Abigail  Burt,  March  1,  1831,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Dean  Burt  of  Berkeley,  a  most 
estimable  Christian  lady  ;  and  well  calculated  to  be  a 
helpmeet  for  a  clergyman.  They  had  the  numerous 
family  of  seven  sons  and  one  daughter. 


REV.    BAALIS    SANFORD.  93 

For  several  years  after  the  resignation  of  his  pasto- 
rate, and  indeed  up  to  the  time  of  his  decease,  July 
28,  1880,  Mr.  Sanford  continued  to  reside  in  the 
same  town,  and  for  a  series  of  years  served  as  chair- 
man of  the  committee  of  public  schools.  In  this 
capacity  his  services  were  very  valuable,  his  annual 
Reports  worthy  of  special  attention. 

His  widow  still  survives  him  and  his  only  daughter 
is  a  successful  teacher  in  the  city  of  Newton.  His 
sons  are  all  living  except  one,  and  all  useful  and 
respectable  members  of  society. 

Captain  Sanford  was  a  remarkable  man.  He  was 
a  mason  by  trade.  He  held  many  offices  of  honor  and 
trust  in  the  town.  He  was  a  school  master,  surveyor 
and  town  clerk.  He  was  an  excellent  penman.  He 
wrote  that  good,  old-fashioned,  round  hand  which  one 
could  read  as  well  as  print.  After  he  had  his  four 
sons  settled  in  the  ministry,  I  was  at  his  house  one 
day,  when  he  received  a  letter  from  one  of  them. 
On  opening  it  he  said,  "Mason"  [the  name  I  was  called 
by  when  a  boy,]  "I  taught  all  my  boys  how  to  write  ; 
and  now  when  I  receive  a  letter  from  them  I  can't 
read  a  word  of  it."  Captain  Sanford  could  repeat  all 
of  "Pope's  Essay  on  Man,"  "Young's  Night  Thoughts," 
and  the  writings  of  many  other  British  poets.  He 
was  quite  an  astronomer ;  he  used  to  say  he  could 
make  an  almanac  all  but  putting  the  weather  in  and 
that  his  wife  could  do  as  well  as  the  "Old  Farmer's 
Almanac,"  did  it. 


94  REV.    ENOCH    SANFORD. 

REV.   ENOCH   SANFORD,   CONGREGA- 
TIONALIST. 


REV.  ENOCH  SANFOKD  was  born  in  Berkeley, 
Mass.,  in  1795.  He  was  the  third  son  of  Capt. 
Joseph  Sanford  of  that  town  who  graduated  at  Brown 
University  and  became  a  Gongregationalist  minister. 
His  father,  as  before  said,  was  a  mason  by  trade  ;  he 
was  a  man  of  strong  intellect  and  bright  parts ;  he 
was  a  school-master,  surveyor,  town  clerk,  &c. 

Enoch,  the  subject  of  these  remarks,  graduated  in 
1820,  at  Brown  University,  was  a  fine  scholar  and  a 
tutor  for  several  years  in  the  university.  He  studied 
theology  with  Prof.  Calvin  Park,  and  was  ordained 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Raynham  in  1823  where  he 
remained  pastor  for  several  years,  and  where  he  is 
still  living  at  an  advanced  age. 

Tutor  Sanford  lias  written  a  very  interesting  history 
of  Berkeley  his  native  town. 

Mr.  Sanford  married  Miss  Caroline  White  of  Wey- 
mouth,  in  1823.  They  had  four  sons  and  one  damjh- 

*J  O 

ter.  Two  of  the  sons  are  dead,  and  of  those  living, 
one  is  a  physician  in  Attleborough,  and  the  other,  a 
lawyer  in  New  York  City.  The  daughter  still  resides 
at  home  with  her  father. 


REV.   JESSE  PAGE,   CONGREGATIONALISM 


REV.  JESSE  PAGE  was  born  in  Atkinson,  N.  II., 
Feb.    23,  1809;     he  labored    on    his  father's   farm 


EEV.    JESSE    PAGE.  95 

till  he  was  eighteen  years  old ;  he  entered  college 
at  Hanover  in  1827  ;  he  married  Miss  Ann  P.  Little 
of  Woodbury ;  he  joined  Dr.  Dana's  church  in  Xew- 
buryport,  in  1826. 

In  a  note  written  to  me  Mr.  Page  says  :  "From  the 
time  I  made  a  public  profession  of  my  faith  in  Christ 
in  1826,  I  have  felt  an  abiding  love  for  the  Savior, 
his  people  and  his  cause ;  I  have  cherished  a  deep 
interest  in  institutions  of  learning  in  proportion  as  they 
embrace  and  teach  the  principals  of  sound  religion. 

Knowledge  is  power  but  it  is  not  wisdom  nor  virtue. 

When  I  left  Dartmouth  College,  in  1831, 1  was  ap- 
pointed principal  of  Limerick  Academy,  Maine,  at 
the  recommendation  of  Asa  D.  Smith,  afterwards 
president  of  Dartmouth  College,  who  had  resigned 
for  Andover  Seminary. 

There  I  remained  one  year  and  then  entered  An- 
dover Theological  Seminary.  Then  I  was  invited  to 
become  a  teacher  in  Philip's  Academy  (before  Sam- 
uel Taylor) ,  and  was  asked  if  I  would  take  charge 
of  Abbott  Female  Seminary,  if  elected,  both  of  which 
I  declined,  for  I  wanted  to  preach  the  gospel. 

Being  among  the  older  of  my  class  and  acquainted 
in  the  region,  I  had  much  to  do  in  supplying  and  re- 
commending a  supply  for  vacant  churches  ;  a  work 
which  I  have  had  much  to  do  since.  (This  work  in 
the  seminary  gave  me  the  appellation  of  Bishop.)  It 
has  been  pleasant  to  see  my  judgment  confirmed  and 
appreciated. 

I  was  the  first  to  recommend  Dr.  Webb  to  the  dea- 


96  REV.    JESSE    PAGE. 

cons  of  Bowdoin  street  church,  which  led  him  to  Bos- 
ton. I  was  consulted  before  Prof.  Hitchcock  was 
appointed  professor  in  Union  Theological  Seminary. 
X.  Y.  I  tried  to  get  Dr.  Duryea  to  Park  st.,  Boston, 
when  he  wras  at  the  Collegiate  church,  N.  Y.  ;  his 
doctor  thought  he  could  not  live  in  the  east  winds, 
but  last  year  he  told  me  the  Central  church*  sent  a 
committee,  each  of  whom  weighed  200,  who  said  they 
had  grown  up  in  this  east  wind.  I  was  instrumental 
in  getting  Dr.  Tucker  appointed  professor  at  Audover. 
I  think  there  were  few,  if  any,  who  heard  his  inaugural 
address,  but  felt  he  was  the  right  man  in  the  right 
place. 

I  was  for  some  years  a  trustee  of  Bradford  Acad- 
emy ;  but  having  started  a  new  plan  of  enlargement 
which  would  require  large  funds  to  carry  out,  I  re- 
signed and  had  Samuel  A.  Warren,  of  Boston,  elec- 
ted in  my  place,  who  has  been  princely  in  his  dona- 
tions, and,  with  others,  has  made  the  institution  one 
of  the  best  in  the  land.  I  was  asked  to  take  the 
presidency  of  Rutger's  Female  College  in  New  York, 
and  likewise  of  an  institution  in  Gorham,  Me.,  but 
my  age  and  other  cares  compelled  me  to  decline. 

In  the  discussion  of  men  and  measures  some  breth- 
ren have  at  times  dissented  from  me,  but  it  is  some 
satisfaction  to  feel  that  time  has  generally  decided  in 
my  favor.  I  have  no  objections  to  my  name  being 
recorded  and  going  down  to  posterity  with  those 
whom  you  select. 

Yours  with  esteem." 


CHAPTER  Y. 


REV.   RUFUS  WHEELRIGHT   CLARK,  D.  D. 
DUTCH  REFORMED. 


RUFUS  WHEELRIGHT  CLARK  was  born  in  New- 
buryport,  Mass.  ;  he  was  of  the  Puritan  stock ;  he 
early  went  to  New  York  and  became  a  clerk  in  a 
store.  There  he  was  converted,  and  soon  considered 
it  his  duty  to  preach  the  gospel.  He  graduated  at  Yale 


98  REV.    RUFUS   WHEELRIGHT    CLARK. 

College  in  1838,  and  at  Andover  Theological  Semin- 
ary and  New  Haven  in  1841.  He  was  first  settled  as 
pastor  of  the  second  presbyterian  church  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.  He  ministered  to  this  church  but  a  single 
year,  and  then  became  pastor  of  the  north  congrega- 
tional church  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  In  1852  he  was 
called  to  the  East  Boston  congregational  church, which 
call  he  accepted.  In  1857  he  became  pastor  of  the 
south  congregational  church  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  In 
1862  he  became  pastor  of  the  first  reformed  church  of 
Albany.  These  churches,  both  in  Albany  and 
Brooklyn,  were  strong  and  orthodox.  They  were 
long  known  under  the  name  of  Dutch  Reformed. 

Dr.  Clark  has  a  noble  physique  ;  his  voice  is  strong 
and  sonorous ;  his  countenance  cheerful,  and  he  car- 
ries joy  and  sunshine  wherever  he  goes.  He  has  had 
a  successful  ministry  of  nearly  forty  years,  and  has 
still  much  of  the  freshness  and  vigor  of  youth.  He 
puts  forth  but  little  bodily  exercise  in  the  pulpit,  but 
his  enunciation  is  clear,  and  without  any  strained  ef- 
fort his  voice  is  heard  in  any  part  of  the  house.  His 
words  are  natural,  clear  and  full ;  his  preaching  is 
like  that  of  "the  Master,"  generally  direct  and  in  the 
second  person. 

Though  he  has  been  nearly  twenty  years  pastor  of 
this  ancient  church,  and  though  such  churches  are 
often  supposed  to  be  dead,  yet  there  has  not  been  a 
single  communion  season  during  all  of  these  years  in 
which  there  have  not  been  additions  to  the  church  by 
profession. 


REV.    RUFUS    WHEELRIGHT    CLARK.  99 

Dr.  Clark  has  labored  much  in  behalf  of  the  young  ; 
his  Sunday  school  labors  have  been  abundant  both  in 
his  own  parish  and  elsewhere ;  he  has  not  only  inter- 
ested himself  much  in  the  religious  education  of  the 
young,  but  also  in  the  secular.  The  writer  knew  him 
while  in  Boston  as  an  active  and  efficient  member  of 
the  school  Board. 

He  has  been  an  earnest  champion  for  the  reading 
of  the  Bible  in  the  public  schools  ;  he  has  labored 
much  in  the  temperance  reformation,  both  by  his  pen 
and  preaching  ;  he  early  felt  and  exposed  the  evils  of 
slavery.  In  preaching  he  h;is  never  given  the  trum- 
pet an  uncertain  sound,  and  during  his  long  ministry 
he  has  never  had  occasion  to  retract  anything  that 
he  has  said,  or  to  regret  entering  upon  the  reforma- 
tory measures  he  has  adopted. 

Dr.  Clark  has  written  many  books,  pamphlets,  re- 
views, and  other  articles  ;  his  book  of  "Lectures  to 
Young  Men"  has  been  very  widely  circulated.  Of 
his  "Sunday  School  Question  Books"  it  is  said  half  a 
million  have  been  sold.  Another  book,  "Heaven  and 
Its  Emblems,"  has  had  a  large  sale.  "Life  Scenes  of 
the  Messiah"  was  also  a  popular  book  ;  he  wrote  also 
the  "Heroes  of  Albany,"  a  large  an  1  valuable  work, 
containing  870  pages  with  biographical  sketches  of 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  city  and  county  of  Albany, 
which  had  a  large  sale.  He  also  wrote  a  book,  ''The 
Work  of  God  in  Great  Britain,  under  Moody  and 
Sankey,"  which  has  been  republished  in  London,  and 
met  with  a  large  sale  in  both  countries.  Among  his 


REV.    RUFUS   WHEELRIGHT    CLARK. 

other  books  which  have  been  popular  were  "Roman- 
ism in  America,"  "The  Bible  and  the  School  Fund," 
"He view  of  Moses  Stuart's  work  on  Slavery,"  etc. 

In  1860  the  New  York  University  conferred  upon 
him  the  title"  of  doctor  of  divinity  ;  he  has  been  hon- 
ored by  this  ancient  church,  in  that  he  has  been  pres- 
ident of  its  Synod, — its  highest  judicatory. 

Dr.  Clark's  family  are  emphatically  a  ministerial 
one  ;  he  has  had  three  brothers  in  the  ministry,  all 
Episcopalians, — one,  the  right  reverend  Thomas  M. 
Clark,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Rhode  Island. 

In  1843  Dr.  Clark  married  the  daughter  of  the  Rev. 
William  C.  Walton,  of  Alexandria,  Va.,  afterwards 
of  Hartford,  Conn.  She  was  a  talented  woman,  an 
excellent  writer,  and  an  active  Christian  worker ;  she 
died  May  21,  1877,  aged  fifty-two  years.  There 
were  six  children  :  Rev.  Rufus  W.  Clark,  jr.,  rector 
of  St.  Paul's  episcopal  church  at  Detroit,  Mich.  ;  Rev. 
William  Walton  Clark,  pastor  of  the  First  street  con- 
gregational church  at  Painesville,  O.  ;  Prof.  E.  War- 
ren Clark,  formerly  of  the  University  of  Japan,  now 
at  the  Philadelphia  Divinity  school ;  Rev.  Fletcher 
Clark,  pastor  of  the  congregational  church  at  Selma, 
Ala.  ;  Francke  L.  Clark  and  Lillie  Clark  of  Albany. 

Dr.  Clark  now  generally  preaches  without  notes, 
and  it  is  no  small  credit  to  him  that  he  has  been  able 
to  sustain  himself  so  well  and  so  popular  for  these 
m  my  years  in  this  ancient  and  aristocratic  church. 
It  is  the  oldest  church  in  the  old  city  of  Albany,  and 
it  is  one  of  the  two  oldest  churches  in  America.  The 


REV.    RUFUS   WHEELRIGHT    CLARK.  101 

other  is  the  collegiate  reformed  church  of  New  York 
city.  Dr.  Clark's  church  is  known  as  the  "two  stee- 
ple" church.  The  first  edifice  of  this  society  was 
built  in  1642.  In  1665  a  new  edifice  was  erected. 
In  it  was  a  bell  upon  which  was  enscribed  "Anno, 
1601,"  and  an  octagonal  pulpit  four  feet  high,  three 
feet  in  diameter,  brought  from  Holland,  and  used  by 
eight  successive  pastors,  in  all  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years.  Every  night  at  eight  o'clock  the  bell-ringer, 
Mynheer  Brower,  went  to  the  church  to  ring  the 
"suppawn  bell."  This  was  the  signal  for  all  the 
Dutch  to  eat  their  hasty  pudding  and  go  to  bed.  This 
good  old  bell-ringer  was  often  deceived  by  naughty 
boys,  who  would  steal  into  the  church  while  he  was 
there,  hide  themselves  in  a  dark  corner,  and  as  soon 
as  the  good  old  bell-ringer  had  got  home  and  eaten 
his  pudding,  and  was  nicely  seated  in  the  chimney- 
corner,  smoking  his  meerschaum  pipe  with  all  the  zeal 
and  energy  of  a  true  Dutchman,  these  wicked  boys 
would  ring  the  bell  so  furiously  that  the  whole  neigh- 
borhood would  be  alarmed. 

Furthermore  as  the  British  made  a  stable  of  the 
Old  South  church  in  Boston  in  the  Revolution  so  this 
old  Albany  church  was  once  used  for  a  fortress.  The 
windows  were  high  from  the  ground  and  the  galleries 
were  low  and  filled  with  young  men  armed  and  ready 
in  case  of  an  attack  ;  and  the  old  men  were  seated  on 
a  raised  platform  along  the  walls,  while  the  women 
were  in  the  centre  out  of  harm's  way. 

TJiis  was  the  origin  of  the  men's  sitting  at  the  head 


102  REV.    RUFUS   WHEELRIGHT    CLARK. 

of  the  pew  that  they  might  be  ready  if  attacked  by 
the  Indians.     Trumbull  says  : 

"As  once  for  fear  of  Indian  beating, 

Our  grandsires  bore  their  guns  to  meeting ; 
Each  man  equipped  on  Sunday  morn, 
AVith  psalm-book,  shot,  and  powder  horn." 

Another  important  article  was  the  hour-glass,  which 
timed  the  preacher,  who  offended  if  he  failed  to  preach 
the  full  hour.  The  pulpit,  the  hour-glass,  and  the 
Dutch  bible  are  still  preserved  in  the  Sunday-school 
room.  The  hour  glass,  with  its  sand,  sits  in  its  iron 
frame,  and  the  Inrge  Bible,  printed  by  "Pieteren 
Jacob  Keur,  Dordrecht,  Anno,  1730,"  with  its  wood 
and  leather  covers,  brass  corners  and  brass  clasps, 
and  maps  and  pictures,  lies  unused  on  the  pulpit, 
which  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  historical  relics  this 
city  affords. 

This  building  was  used  until  1715,  when  another 
was  erected  over  it,  so  that  the  services  might  continue 
without  interruption.  Only  three  Sundays  were  lost. 
This  new  church,  which  occupied  almost  the  entire 
width  of  State  street,  was  a  massive,  and  for  that  day 
imposing  structure,  with  a  steep,  pyramidical  roof, 
surmounted  by  a  belfry  and  a  weather  cock.  The 
windows  bore  in  colored  glass,  the  coat-of-arms  of 
several  of  the  families  of  the  congregation.  At  each 
service  the  chapter  of  the  Bible  to  be  read  and  the 
psalms  to  be  sung  were  indicated  by  large  figures 
hanging  on  the  walls, — a  custom  still  observed  in  cer- 
tain parts  of  Europe. 

The  minister  would  enter  during  the  singing,  and 


REV.    RUFUS    WHEELRIGHT    CLARK.  103 

before  ascending  to  the  pulpit,  stand  a  moment  at  the 
foot  of  the  stairs  in  silent  prayer.  This  building 
stood  for  ninety-one  years,  when  the  site  was  sold  to 
to  the  city  for  $5,000,  and  the  materials  were  used  in 
the  construction  of  the  second  reformed  church  on 
Beaver  street.  Previous  to  1753,  the  church  had  sit- 
tings for  six  hundred  and  eleven  women  and  seventy- 
nine  men.  The  seats  were  extended  until  before  1770, 
there  were  eight  hundred  and  twenty  sittings.  The 
present  church,  North  Pearl  and  Orange  streets,  then 
the  finest  specimen  of  ecclesiastical  architecture  in  the 
city,  was  dedicated  in  1799,  when  Albany  had  a  pop- 
ulation of  five  thousand.  Its  interior  has  been  modi- 
fied three  times ;  in  1820,  1850  and  in  1860,  when 
the  rear  building  containing  the  Sabbath-school  room, 
consistory  room,  study,  etc.,  was  added  to  the  main 
edifice.  For  about  six  years,  services  were  held  in 
this  church,  and  in  the  old  one,  Broadway  and  State, 
simultaneously. 

On  the  opposite  side  of  Pearl  street,  Avas  a  small 
building  occupied  by  Booking,  a  celebrated  cake  baker. 
The  light  from  his  oven  at  night  was  reflected  by  a 
window  in  one  of  the  steeples  of  the  church  and  for  a 
long  time  the  origin  of  this  illumination  being 
unknown,  the  story  was  current  that  the  church  was 
haunted.  The  superstitious  were  afraid  to  pass  it  in 
the  night,  and  some  would  not  even  go  to  the  bakery 
after  dark.  In  1830,  a  railing,  the  first  in  the  city, 
was  put  around  the  church.  By  government  grants 
and  by  purchase,  the  church  owned  considerable  prop- 


104  REV.    KUFUS    WHEELRIGHT    CLARK. 

erty,  some  of  which  was  lost  through  a  dishonest 
treasurer.  In  1687  the  "pasture"  was  bought.  This 
piece  of  land  contained  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
and  lay  on  the  west  side  of  what  now  is  Broadway, 
"leading  from  the  ferry  to  the  town."  In  1791  when 
the  consistory  directed  this  ground  to  be  laid  out  into 
lots,  a  gate  still  swung  across  the  way  a  little  above 
Madison  avenue  and  "a  common  road  from  thence  to 
the  ferry  lay  along  the  bank  of  the  river  through  the 
pasture."  These  lots  were  sold  for  less  than  one 
hundred  dollars  apiece. 

FORMER    PASTORS. 

Eighteen  pastors  proceeded  Dr.  Clark  :  Johannes 
Megapolensis,  from  1642  to  1649  ;  Gideon  Schaets, 

1652  to  1683  ;  -  -  Niewenhuysen,  1675  to ; 

Godfreidus  Dellius,  1683  to  1699  ;  Johannes  Petrus 
Nucella,  1699  to  1702;  Johannes  Lydius,  1703  to 
1709  ;  Petrus  Van  Driessen,  1712  to  1739  :  Cornelius 
Van  Sehie,  1733  to  1744  ;  Theodorus  Frclinghuysen, 
1746  to  1760;  Eilarchus  Westerlo,  1760  to  1790; 
John  Bosset,  1787  to  1805  ;  John  B.  Johnson,  1796 
to  1802  ;  John  M.  Bradford,  1805  to  1820  ;  John  DC 
Witt,  1813  to  1815;  John  Ludlow,  1823  to  1833; 
Thomas  E.  Vermilye,  1835  to  1839  ;  Duncan  Ken- 
nedy, 1841  to  1855;  Ebeuezer  P.  Kogers,  1856 
to  1862. 

Rev.  Johannes  Megapolensis,  aged  thirty-nine, 
arrived  with  wife  and  four  children  in  1642.  For  him 
a  house,  entirely  of  oak,  was  built  at  a  cost  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  dollars.  The  conditions  upon 


REV.    RUFUS   WHEELRIGHT    CLARK.  105 

which  he  accepted  the  call  were  a  free  passage  and 
board  for  himself  and  family,  an  outfit  of  three 
hundred  guilders  (one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars,) 
a  salary  of  one  thousand  one  hundred  guilders,  (four 
hundred  and  forty  dollars.)  twenty- two  and  one  half 
bushels  of  wheat  and  two  firkins  of  butter  per  annum 
for  three  years.  He  preached  to  the  Indians  several 
years  before  the  celebrated  Elliot.  After  his  pasto- 
rate in  Albany  he  went  to  New  York  city. 

Rev.  Gideon  Schaet's  salary  was  one  thousand  two 
hundred  guilders.  His  daughter,  Anneke  S.,  was 
by  no  means  a  favorite  with  some  of  the  women  por- 
tion of  her  father's  congregation,  who  even  objected  to 
approach  the  Lord's  supper  in  her  company.  Gossip 
about  the  dominie's  character  resulted  in  a  suit  for 
slander  and  the  parties  had  to  pay  heavy  damages. 
The  Dominie  resigned  after  having  preached  a  sermon 
on  II  Peter  i,  12-15.  He  was,  however,  reconciled 
to  his  flock  and  continued  pastor  until  1683. 

Dominie  Niewenhuysen  suffered  much  oppression 
at  the  governor's  hands  because  he  resisted  the  claims 
of  Rev.  Nicholas  Van  Renssalaer  to  the  pulpit.  The 
latter  was  suspected  of  being  a  Papist  in  disguise  and 
was  finally  rejected  by  the  people. 

Before  Dominie  Dellius  there  are  no  church  records 
but  in  1683  the  registry  of  baptism  begins  and  has 
been  continued  with  much  accuracy  down  to  the  pre- 
sent day. 

During  Dominie  Frelinghuy sen's  ministry  the  Eng- 
lish soldiers  introduced  light  European  customs,  such, 


106  EEV.    RUFUS   WHEELRIGHT    CLARK. 

as  balls,  gayer  dress  and  freer  manners,  etc.  The 
very  depth  of  degeneracy  was  a  theatre  ;  a  play  was 
acted  in  a  barn  and  was  well  attended.  One  Mon- 
day morning  after  he  had  denounced  these  startling 
innovations,  Dominie  .  Frelinghuysen  found  within 
his  door,  a  club,  a  pair  of  shoes,  a  crust  of  black 
bread  and  a  dollar.  It  was  an  emblematic  message 
to  signify  the  desire  entertained  of  his  departure. 
He  sailed  for  Holland  and  it  is  thought  committed 
suicide  by  jumping  overboard,  as  no  tidings  were 
ever  heard  of  him.  Through  Dominie  Westerlo,  the 
Dutch  church  in  this  country  severed  its  ecclesiasti- 
cal connection  with  Holland.  He  began  to  preach 
part  of  the  time  in  English,  although  the  first  Eng- 
lish preaching  is  said  to  have  been  by  Dominie  John 
H.  Livingstone  who  assisted  Dr.  Westerlo,  his  broth- 
er-in-law, but  refused  the  church's  call.  Dr.  Wes- 
terlo delivered  an  address  upon  the  occasion  of 
Washington's  visit  to  Albany  in  1782.  Dominie 
Basse tt,  the  first  settled  English  pastor,  was  a  man 
of  extraordinary  learning,  and  during  his  ministry 
the  two  steeple  church  was  built.  Dominie  Johnson 
pronounced  a  eulogy  upon  Washington,  February  22, 
1800  ;  it  was  a  masterly  oration  ;  it  produced  a  great 
sensation  and  was  published  by  vote  of  both  federal 
houses." 

I  have  given  this  lengthy  sketch  of  this  old  church 
because  I  have  ever  had  great  respect  and  veneration 
for  these  old  Dutch  churches  ;  they  have  ever  been 
true  churches  of  Christ,  maintaining  the  ancient  faith 


REV.    RUFUS   WHEELRIGHT    CLARK.  107 

in  its  purity.  When  persecution  raged,  they  always 
stood  firmly ;  no  threats,  no  kingly  decrees,  no  fag- 
gots, shook  their  faith. 

They  appointed  shelter  and  protection  to  our  Pil- 
grim Fathers  in  Holland,  and  they  have  ever  been 
true  to  the  gospel  in  America. 

The  Renssalaer  family  alone,  for  its  antiquity,  its 
wealth,  its  influence  and  its  piety,  has  been  from  the 
early  settlement  of  the  country,  a  tower  of  strength 
in  this  church,  to  say  nothing  of  the  numerous  other 
families  of  renown. 

It  reflects  great  honor  upon  Dr.  Clark,  that  he,  of 
New  England,  yankee  birth,  and  puritanic  proclivi- 
ties, should  ever  have  obtained  such  favor  with  this 
ancient  flock  as  to  have  been  called  by  them ;  and 
especially  that  he  should  have  lived  and  labored 
among  them,  and  secured  their  respect,  confidence 
and  esteem  for  a  score  of  years  ;  not  only  so,  but  he 
has  become  more  endeared  to  them  year  by  year ; 
when  it  is  considered  moreover,  that  most  of  the  score 
of  dominies  who  have  preceeded  him  have  been  of 
their  own  nation,  as  is  indicated  by  their  peculiar 
names,  it  is  still  more  remarkable.  It  is  natural  to 
all  nationalities  to  prefer  one  of  their  own^country- 
nien  to  be  their  ruler  or  pastor,  as  has  ever  been  seen 
in  the  good  old  presbyterian  churches  planted  in  our 
land  by  Scotch  and  emigrants  from  the  north  of- 
Ireland ;  rarely  have  any  of  these  churches  had  an 
American  settled  over  them. 

How  much  credit  and  honor,  then,  should  be  given 


108  REV.     NEHEMIAH    ADAMS,     D.    D. 

to  our  New  England  brother  Clark  for  securing 
among  them  this  high  position,  and  for  keeping  it 
and  adorning  it  for  such  a  train  of  years  !  As  did 
Samuel,  the  prophet  among  the  Hebrews  of  his  day, 
so  may  Dr.  Clark  long  go  in  and  out  before  the  peo- 
ple of  Albany  "teaching  them  the  right  way  of  the 
Lord." 

Dr.  Clark  is  worthy  of  special  recognition  and  re- 
memberance  for  what  he  has  done  for  sabbnth 
schools  ;  this  is  evident  from  the  great  prosperity  and 
success  of  the  .school  in  his  present  church.  He  has 
also  done  much  for  this  cause  elsewhere.  I  heard  his 
long  and  interesting  address  on  these  schools  in 
Woodstock,  my  old  parish  in  Connecticut,  at  Mr. 
Bowen's  gathering,  July  4,  1877.  It  was  like  "ap- 
ples of  gold  in  pictures  of  silver." 


REV.   NEHEMIAH  ADAMS,   D.  D.,   CONGRE- 
GAT1ONALIST. 


DR.  ADAMS  was  born  in  Salem,  Mass.,  in  1806. 
He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  college  in  1826.  After 
graduating  at  the  theological  seminary  at  Andover  he 
returned  to  Cambridge,  and  was  settled  as  colleague 
pastor  with  the  Rev.  Abiel  Holmes,  D.D.,  the  pastor 
of  the  first  orthodox  church,  now  under  the  charge 
of  Rev.  Dr.  McKenzie.  In  1834  Dr.  Adams  removed 
from  Cambridge  to  Boston,  and  became  pastor  of  the 


REV.     NEHEMIAH    ADAMS,    D.     D.  109 

Union  church  commonly  called  the  Essex  Street 
church.  He  was  then  in  the  vigor  of  his  days,  aged 
twenty-eight  years.  The  times  and  the  place  called 
for  a  man  of  eminence.  Dr.  Adams  was  such  a  man. 
It  may  be  truly  said  that  during  the  present  century, 
the  Boston  pulpit  has  had  no  more  devoted  minister, 
no  more  thorough  scholar  or  better  writer  than  Nehe- 
miah  Adams.  He  was  never  what  would  be  called  a 
popular  speaker,  yet  in  his  peculiar  way  he  was  elo- 
quent. He  never  strove  or  attempted  to  make  a  sen- 
sation. He  never  pandered  to  a  vitiated  taste.  He 
never  sought  to  please  men.  His  style  was  pure, 
strong  and  elevating.  Men  of  thought,  of  cultivation 
and  refinement,  were  instructed  and  delighted  witti  his 
sermons.  By  nature  he  was  a  gentleman,  and  by 
grace,  a  Christian.  He  was  very  decided  in  his  con- 
victions and  was  sure  to  go  where  he  believed  truth 
and  duty  called.  He  was  loyal  to  his  own  ideas  and 
never  swerved  from  them.  The  stand  he  took  against 
unitarianism  brought  him  into  collision  with  many  of 
the  learned  and  wealthy  men  of  Boston  ;  yet  he  never 
swerved  from  his  purpose. 

His  "South  Side  View"  rendered  him  somewhat 
unpopular  as  it  was  in  opposition  to  the  general  sen- 
timent of  the  community  in  which  he  lived.  Though 
he  passed  though  a  fiery  furnace  for  publishing  this 
book  ;  yet  he  never  threatened,  persecuted  or  reviled 
his  opposers.  He  always  manifested  benignity, 
sweetness  of  temper  and  a  pious  spirit. 

There  have  been  very  few  such  pastors  as  Dr. 


110  REV.    NEHEMIAH    ADAMS,    D.     D. 

Adams.  In  his  public  administration  he  never  scolded 
his  hearers  ;  but  his  speech  was  always  with  meekness 
and  gentleness.  Few  men  could  clothe  the  truth 
with  such  polish,  smoothness  and  delicacy  as  he  could. 
The  writer  once  attended  his  church  with  the  Rev.  T. 
De  Witt  Talmage.  Upon  leaving  the  house  Mr.  Tal- 
rnage  said,  "In  what  beautiful  language  Mr,  Adams 
clothed  every  sentence." 

At  the  bedside  of  the  sick  and  in  the  house  of 
mourning  he  seemed  almost  inspired  in  touching  all 
that  pertained  to  human  sorrow  with  the  most  tender 
expressions.  One  has  well  said  of  him :  "Nothing 
could  exceed  the  delicacy,  the  appositeness  of  every 
movement,  when  he  entered  with  his  thought,  or  in 
his  person  within  that  holy  of  holies,  the  precinct  of 
earthly  sorrow." 

Dr.  Adams  employed  his  pen  and  the  printed  page 
to  maintain  and  defend  the  sentiments  which  he  firmly 
believed.  I  do  not  remember  all  the  books  which  he 
wrote  but  in  the  language  of  another  I  give  my  read- 
ers the  following  : — "He  published  many  works,  some 
of  a  theological,  others  of  a  devotional  character, 
"Agnes  and  the  Little  Key,"  and  "Bertha  and  her 
Baptism,"  have  had  an  especially  wide  circulation, 
and  have  brought  comfort  and  peace  to  many  a  dark- 
ened home.  His  "South  Side  View  of  Slavery"  grew 
out  of  a  winter  spent  on  a  plantation  in  Georgia  for 
the  benefit  of  his  health.  After  the  close  of  his  active 
ministry  he  took  a  voyage  around  the  world  in  a  sail- 
ing vessel,  the  commander  of  which  was  one  ot  bis 


REV.    NEHEMIAH    ADAMS,    D.     D.  Ill 

sons,  and  of  this  voyage  he  wrote  and  published  a 
brief  but  extremely  entertaining  narrative.  He  was 
also  the  author  of  a  ''Life  of  John  Elliot,"  of  "The 
Friends  of  Christ  in  the  New  Testament,"  and  of  "Re- 
marks on  the  Unitarian  Belief" ;  and  he  was  a  fre- 
quent contributor  to  the  "Spirit  of  the  Pilgrims,"  a 
stoutly  orthodox  periodical  published  in  Boston  from 
1826  to  1833.  One  volume  at  least  of  sermons  by 
him  has  been  published. 

His  son,  Rev.  William  H.  Adams,  has  published 
one  volume,  "Walks  to  Emmaus,"  since  the  decease 
of  Dr.  Adams  ;  and,  I  am  informed,  his  now  only 
surviving  son  is  preparing  a  life  of  his  father  ;  'which, 
as  it  will  be  more  extended  and  written  by  one  more 
competent  for  the  task,  and  who  has  greater  facilities 
for  it,  will  render  this  sketch  briefer  and  of  less  mo- 
ment to  the  community.  I  shall,  therefore,  cut  short 
this  memoir  by  giving  only  my  personal  recollections 
of  Dr.  Nehemiah  Adams. 

For  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  he  was  mainly  laid 
aside  from  all  aciive  labors,  and  henc»,  was  almost 
unknown  to  the  youth  of  Boston,  and  to  our  younger 
ministers.  Still,  during  these  years,  I  heard  him 
preach  some  exceedingly  interesting  sermons.  One 
of  this  kind,  I  remember,  was  from  the  text :  "Where 
the  sun  goeth  down  on  the  other  side  of  Jordan." 

Another  one  from  the  text :  "  I  am  he  that  liveth 
and  was  dead  ;  and  behold,  I  am  alive  for  evermore, 
amen;  and  have  the  keys  of  hell  and  of  death," 
Rev.  i,  18. 


112  KEV.    ELIJAH    DEXTEK. 

While  Dr.  Adams  was  thus  comparatively  unknown 
to  the  present  generation,  there  still  linger  among  us 
some  who  remember  him  in  the  days  of  his  strength, 
as  one  of  the  grand  land-marks  of  Boston.  For  more 
than  forty-four  years  he  was  the  nominal  pastor  of 
the  union  church,  and  for  more  than  thirty  its  only 
pastor.  It  was  here  by  his  poetic  taste,  by  the  clear- 
ness of  his  rhetoric  and  logic,  and  by  his  piety,  he 
drew  into  his  congregation  such  men  as  Mr.  Durant, 
the  founder  of  Wellesley  College,  the  silver  tongued 
Rufus  Choate,  and  the  Rev.  George  Punchard. 

The  disease  of  which  Dr.  Adams  died  was  a  linger- 
ing paralysis,  of  which  he  had  more  than  twenty 
strokes,  which  rendered  him  nearly  speechless  months 
before  the  end.  That  end  was  peace. 


REV.    ELIJAH    DEXTER,    CONGREGATION- 
ALIST. 


[WRITTEN  BY  REV.  HEXHV  M.  DEXTER,  D.  D.] 
,  REV.  ELIJAH  DEXTER  was  the  sixth  of  the  ten 
children  of  Deacon  Elijah  Dexter  of  Rochester,  Mass. 
His  father  married  first,  Keziah  [a  lineal  descendant 
of  Edward]  Winslow  by  whom  he  had  two  daughters  ; 
second,  Martha  Clark,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons 
and  five  daughters.  Elijah  was  born  in  Rochester, 
Sept.  1,  1786,  being  the  fourth  child,  and  second 
son,  of  his  mother.  His  father  was  the  fourth  child 
of  deacon  Seth.  who  was  eleventh  child  of  Benjamin, 
who  was  seventh  child  of  William,  who  was  one  of 
the  children  of  ''farmer"  Thomas  Dexter,  the  first 


REV.    ELIJAH   DEXTER.  113 

purchaser  of  Nahant,  and  whose  name  figures  consid- 
erably in  the  earliest  history  of  Lynn  and  Sandwich. 

Deacon  Elijah  Dexter  was  a  small  farmer,  who 
helped  himself  in  days  when  work  was  slack  or 
impossible  on  the  farm,  in  a  small  shop  where  boots 
and  shoes  were  made  and  mended,  and  kindred  works 
in  leather  were  wrought— not  without  a  fearfully  bad 
smell  in  some  of  the  processes,  which,  left  most  dis- 
tinct impressions  upon  the  memory  of  the  present 
writer.  Deacon  Dexter  was  a  plain,  old-fashioned, 
godly  man  and  was  esteemed  a  pillar  of  the  ancient 
first  church  in  Rochester,  which,  when  the  younger 
Elijah  was  a  little  more  than  twelve  years  old, 
received  Mr.  [afterward  Dr.]  Oliver  Cobbas  the  suc- 
cessor to  Samuel  Arnold,  Timothy  Haggles  an'd  Jon- 
athan Moore  in  its  pastorate.  The  new  pastor  was 
then  two  years  on  the  junior  side  of  thirty,  and  it  is 
probably  to  be  attributed  to  his  original  prompting, 
as  well  as  to  his  assiduous  subsequent  training,  that 
the  lad  was  by  1802,  enabled  a  little  before  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age,  to  enter  Brown  University, 
whence  he  graduated  with  a  fair  standing  in  1806. 
It  is  believed  that  a  weakness  or  disorder  of  the  eyes 
in  some  degree  interfered  with  the  comfort  and  emi- 
nence of  his  collegiate  career. 

It  was  the  custom — as  it  was  indeed,  the  necessity 
—  of  those  days,  that  such  special  study  of  theology, 
as  supplemented  the  college  course,  be  taken  in  the 
family  of  some  pastor  of  active  work.  Mr.  Dexter 
sought  and  found  his  ministerial  training  in  such  stu- 


11*4  REV.    ELIJAH   DEXTER. 

dies  in  the  family  of  Rev.  Masse  Shepard  of  Little 
Cornptonand  Rev.  Noble  Everett  of  Wareham,  Mass., 
and  with  his  own  beloved  pastor,  Rev.  Oliver  Cobb. 

The  pulpit  in  Plympton,  Mass.,  had  been  vacated 
in  the  summer  of  1807  by  the  removal  of  Rev.  John 
Briggs  to  New  Hampshire  ;  and  probably  through  the 
commendation  of  Mr.  Cobb,  Mr.  Dexter  went  there 
as  a  candidate. 

Preaching  three  or  four  months  in  this  capacity  he 
proved  highly  acceptable,  was  called  as  pastor,  and 
ordained  Jan.  18,  1809  —  less  than  five  months 
after  he  was  twenty-three  ;  Mr.  Cobb  preaching  the 
sermon  which  was  printed.  The  young  pastor  suc- 
ceeded Isaac  Cushrnan,  Jonathan  Parker,  Ezra  Samp- 
son, Ebenezer  Withington  and  John  Briggs,  in  a  po- 
sition which  the  first  had  occupied  nearly  four  and 
thirty,  and  the  second  more  than  four  and  forty  years, 
until  their  Master  called  them  to  their  reward. 

In  the  following  March  [28,  1809]  he  married  Miss 
Clarissa  Crocker  of  New  Bedford,  by  whom  he  had 
one  son,  bearing  his  own  name.  But  he  was  soon 
bereaved  of  both. 

Not  long  after  [Dec.  30,  1812]  he  married  again, 
[Mary]  one  of  the  ten  children  of  Hon.  Nathaniel 
Morton  of  Freetown,  and  sister  of  Hon.  Marcus  Mor- 
ton, for  many  years  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts supreme  court,  and  for  two  years  governor 
of  the  state.  By  her  he  had  four  children,  viz.  : 

Nathaniel  Morton,  born  Sept.  28,  1814 ;  gradua- 
ted at  Amherst  college,  1836  ;  taught  in  an  academy 


REV.    ELIJAH   DEXTER.  115 

at  Plainfield,  N.  J.,  where  he  died  Sept.  18,  1838,  age 
but  10  days  less  than  24  years.  Elijah,  born  Aug.  31, 

1816  ;  died  next  day.     David  Brainerd,  born  Oct.  18, 

1817  ;  diedsameday.  Henry Martyn.  b.  Aug.  13, 1821. 
Mrs.  Dexter — whose  uncommon  loveliness,  and  the 

unselfish  and  missionary  quality  of  whose  Christian 
character,  seem  exceptionally  to  have  impressed  all  who 
intimately  knew  her — lived  about  fourteen  months  after 
the  birth  of  her  fourth  child,  dying  Oct.  1(),  1822,  at 
the  (for  her  children)  too  early  age  of  thirty-seven. 

More  than  two  years  after  [May  28,  1824]  Mr. 
Dexter  married  for  his  third  wife,  Miss  Lydia,  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  Isaac  Thompson  of  Middleboro,  who  sur- 
vived him  without  children. 

Mr.  Dexter's  ministry  in  Plympton  partook  largely 
of  those  qualities  which  used  to  mark  the  pastorate  of 
a  hard-working  and  faithful  preacher,  sole  incumbent 
in  a  little  country  town  of  (then)  some  eight  or  nine 
hundred  inhabitants.  He  was  nearly  always  in  robust 
health,  and  he  spared  no  endeavor  to  do  all  the  vari- 
ous work  which  devolved  upon  him.  He  was  half 
physician  as  well  as  preacher,  and  saved  many  a  poor 
man  many  a  doctor's  bill.  He  superintended  schools. 
He  made  people's  last  wills.  He  taught  school.  He 
once  or  twice  represented  the  town  in  the  legislature, 
— filling  his  own  pulpit  the  while.  He  was  every- 
body's helper  and  everybody's  friend,  while  the 
steady  growth  of  the  church  and  the  advancing  pros- 
perity of  the  town  indicated  that  his  most  sacred 
labors  were  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord. 


116  REV,    ELIJAH   DEXTER, 

But  after  more  than  one  and  forty  years  of  this 
multifarious,  always  beginning  and  never  ending 
work,  he  began  to  tire,  to  feel  that  he  craved  a  little 
rest  before  he  died,  and  to  think  that  possibly  a  new 
voice  might  gain  the  gospel  from  ^ome  classes  of  the 
community,  better  listeners.  So,  on  his  own  persis- 
tent request,  and  to  the  deep  regret  of  the  godly,  to 
whom  he  had  so  long  broken  the  bread  of  life,  May 
15,  1851,  an  ecclesiastical  council  severed  the  pasto- 
ral tie,  speaking  strongly  and  kindly  of  "his  laborious, 
faithful  and  successful  services  as  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  for  an  unusually  long  period." 

He  rested  however,  on  earth,  but  a  little  while. 
Going  to  Portland  in  the  following  September  to  the 
meeting  of  the  A.  13.  C.  F.  M.,  he  and  Mrs.  Dexter 
were  both,  while  there,  seized  with  dysentery.  Get- 
ting home  comfortably,  he  was  able,  with  his  usual 
unselfishness,  to  nurse  her  until  she  was  out  of  all 
danger,  when  he  took  his  bed,  never  to  leave  it.  His 
strong  constitution  resisted  the  disease,  and  the 
struggle  was  protracted  and  his  sufferings  extreme. 
His  last  utterance  that  could  be  distinctly  understood 
was  :  "Why  is  His  chariot  so  long  in  coming?"  He 
fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  10th  of  October,  1851,  aged  65 
years,  1  month,  and  10  days,  after  a  ministry  of 
more  than  eleven  years  longer  than  the  lifetime  of 
a  whole  generation. 

It  is  not  remembered  how  many  lads,  besides  his 
own  two  sons,  he  fitted  for  college  ;  but  he  certainly 
did  that  work  for  several ;  while  the  number  where 


.  REV.    JEDEDIAH   MORSE,    D.    D,  117 

he  aided  in  laying  the  foundations  of  a  first  class  bus- 
iness career,  was  not  inconsiderable.  At  least  two  of 
the  most  wealthy,  eminent  and  largely  honored  mer- 
chants of  Boston,  owe  largely  to  him  both  the  stim- 
ulus which  rescued  them  from  the  petty  engross- 
ments of  an  absorbing  country  life,  and  the  begin- 
ning of  that  intellectual  culture  which  has  made 
them  what  they  are.  Mr.  Dexter  excelled  in  sound 
judgment.  He  was  remarkable  for  making  money 
go  so  well  so  far ;  of  an  exceedingly  equable  tem- 
perament, and  an  evenly  balanced  mind,  his  appre- 
hension of  truth  was  apt  to  be  exact,  and  his  con- 
clusions reasonable.  Passion  never  swerved  him ; 
ambition  never  stimulated  him ;  envy  or  jealousy 
never  embittered  him ;  but  he  kept  right  on  the  even 
tenor  of  an  humble,  prudent,  honest  and  honorable 
life,  in  a  way  to  demonstrate  the  law  of  God,  and  to 
earn  the  good  will  of  men.  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher 
could  preach  better  than  he  could  :  but  he  could  tell 
who,  when  and  what  to  practise,  better  than  most 
doctors  of  divinity.  By  consequence  he  was  a  much 
sought  and  a  very  useful  member  of  ecclesiastical 
councils  called  to  shed  light  and  compose  strife. 

He  never  wrote  a  book,  or  published  a  sermon,  but 
his  children  reverenced  him,  his  works  praise  him ; 
and  as  a  just  man  his  memory  is  blessed. 

REV.   JEDEDIAH  MORSE,   D.  D.,    CONGRE- 
GATION ALIST. 

REV.  DR.  MORSE  was  born  in  Woodstock,  Conn., 
Aug.  23,  1761.  He  died  in  New  Haven,  June  9, 


118  REV.    JEDEDIAH   MORSE,    D.    D. 

182*1.  The  writer  was  settled  in  this  parish  in  1831. 
He  had  known  Dr.  Morse  in  Massachusetts  and  care- 
fully studied  his  geography.  Dr.  Morse's  father  was 
a  deacon  of  the  first  church  in  Woodstock,  and  repre- 
sented the  town  in  the  State  Legislature  thirty  years 
in  succession.  When  he  was  seventeen  years  old  he 
commenced  his  preparations  for  college  at  the  acade- 
my in  Woodstock.  He  completed  his  preparation  in 
less  than  a  year.  He  entered  Yale  College  in  1779. 
He  graduated  in  1783.  The  year  after  his  graduation 
he  taught  a  school  for  young  ladies  in  New  Haven. 
He  was  principal  of  this  school  for  two  years.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  1785.  In  1786  he  became 
a  tutor  in  Yale  College.  He  was  ordained  the  9th  of 
November  ;  and  the  next  day  set  out  for  Midway,  Ga., 
to  take  the  place  then  left  vacant  by  the  Rev.  Abiel 
Holmes,  his  townsman.  In  May.  1787,  Mr.  Morse 
received  an  invitation  to  preach  as  a  candidate  to  the 
church  in  Cliarlestown,  Mass.  There  he  received  a 
unanimous  call  to  be  pastor  of  the  church,  which  call 
he  accepted  and  was  installed  the  30th  of  April,  1789, 
the  same  hour  that  Washington  was  inaugurated  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States.  On  the  14th  of  May  fol- 
lowing he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Ann  Breesc,  of 
Shrewsbury,  N.  J.  In  1795  he  received  the  degree 
of  doctor  of  divinity  from  the  University  of  Edinburgh. 
In  1798  he  pivached  a  fast-day  sermon,  and  in  1799 
a  .thanksgiving  sermon,  against  infidelity,  both  of 
which  were  published. 

Dr.  Morse  strongly  protested,  in  1804,  against  the 


REV.    JEDEDIAH   MORSE,    D.    D.  119 

election  of  a  Unitarian  to  fill  the  Hollis  professorship 
of  divinity  in  Harvard  College  ;  and  published  a  pam- 
phlet against  it.  In  1805  he  planned  and  published 
the  Panoplist  to  defend  orthodoxy  in  New  England. 

For  five  years  he  was  the  sole  editor.  This  maga- 
zine was  afterwards  changed  to  The  Panoplist  and 
Missionary  Herald.  Subsequently  the  Panoplist  was 
left  off,  and  it  was  published  under  the  name  of  Mis- 
sionary Herald,  under  which  name  it  is  still  pub- 
lished. 

Dr.  Morse  Avas  one  of  the  principal  men  concerned 
in  the  establishment  of  the  theological  seminary  at 
Andover.  He  remained  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Charlestown  till  1820  when  he  resigned  his  charge 
and  removed  to  New  Haven,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life. 

He  always  manifested  a  deep  interest  in  the  Indian 
tribes,  an.d  labored  much  to  civilize  and  christainize 
them.  In  Februrary,  1820,  he  received  a  Commis- 
sion from  John  C.  Calhoun,  secretary  of  war,  to  visit 
and  inspect  several  tribes  to  ascertain  their  condition 
and  devise  means  for  their  improvement.  He  spent 
two  winters  to  execute  this  Commission ;  and  submit- 
ted the  result  to  the  War  Department  in  the  form  of 
Report,  which  in  1822  was  published  in  an  octavo 
volume. 

From  his  early  youth  Dr.  Morse  was  much  inter- 
ested in  Geography,  and  while  engaged  as  a  teacher 
in  New  Haven  he  prepared  a  manuscript  for  his  own 
use.  Geography  was  not  then  taught  in  the  public 


120  REV.    JEDEDIAH   MORSE,    D.    D. 

.schools.  His  manuscript  was  largely  copied  by  his 
pupils.  In  1784  it  was  first  published,  and  made  him 
the  father  of  American  Geography.  He  also  published 
a  "Gazetteer."  Both  the  volumes  went  through  sev- 
eral editions  in  America,  and  were  republished  in 
England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland,  They  were  transla- 
ted into  the  German  and  French  languages.  His 
school  geography  was  generally  used  throughout  the 
United  States  and  in  foreign  countries. 

He  aided  in  forming  most  of  the  benevolent  societies 
of  the  present  day ;  and  of  several  of  them  he  might 
properly  be  called  the  father.  He  published  numer- 
ous sermons  and  pamphlets  in  addition  to  his  larger 
books.  Dr.  Morse  had  three  sons  who  lived  to  grow 
up.  Samuel  E.  Finley  Breese  who  made  the  brilliant 
discovery  of  the  telegraph.  His  second  son,  Sidney 
Edwards  founded  the  New  York  Observer.  The 
youngest  was  named  Richard  Carey.  The}'  all  three 
graduated  at  Yale  College. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


REV.  WILLIAM   ELLERY  CHAXXIXG,  D.  D. 


[SELECTED  FROM  A  SERMON  PREACHED  BY  REV.  HENTRY  VV. 
BELLOWS.  D.  !>.,  AT  THE  CENTENNIAL  Axxi- 

VEUSAUY  OF   HIS   BlRTH.] 

"  He  was  a  burning  and  a  shining  light;  and  ye  were  willing  for  a  season  to 
rejuice  in  his  light." — JOHN  5  :  35. 

IT  was  when  John  the  Baptist's  light  was  fading  in 
the  glory  of  the  newly  rUen  Sun  of  Highieousness 
that  Jesus  bore  this  generous  testimony  to  his  prede- 
cessor's lustre.  lie  characterized,  in  words  that  have 
become  immortal,  .the  flame  of  that  stern  prophet  who 
had  heralded  the  way  for  his  own  appearing;  but  at 
the  same  time  intimated  th  it  its  tires  had  paled,  like 
a  torch  whose  oil  had  burned  low.  The  sun  had  risen, 
the  torch  was  no  longer  useful. 

We  have  come  together  to  bless  and  praise  a  mod- 
ern prophet,  who,  like  nanny  other  >aints  who  hnve 
been  the  burning  and  shining  lights  of  their  genera- 
tion, was  the  herald  of  a  new  and  brighter  day.  But 
it  is  not  his  memory  chiefly  that  we  recall.  It  is  a 
living  light  that  we  are  to  contemplate,  brighter  than 
it  ever  was  ;  it  is  not  a  torch  that  has  gone  out,  but  a 
star  that  shines  on,  guiding  our  pre-ent  way,  that  we 
meet  to  rejoice  in  the  light  of.  Of  Camming,  we  do 
not  say  he  was,  but  he  is,  a  burning  and  a  shining 
lijjht ;  and  the  seas  m  has  not  gone  by,  it  has  not  even 
reached  its  meridian,  when  the  O'hurch  and  the  world 
are  willing  to  rejoice  in  his  light. 


122  REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY   CHANNIXG. 

On  this  occasion,  the  centennial  of  his  birth,  and  in 
the  place  of  his  birth,  it  falls  to  me  to  be  the  spokes- 
man of  the  love  and  honor  in  which  his  life  and  teach- 
ings, his  character  and  his  services  to  the  Church  and 
the  world,  are  held  by  his  townsmen,  and  especially 
by  those  who  have  inherited  and  have  sought  to  extend 
and  perpetuate  what  was  special  in  his  theological 
opinions.  It  is  true  his  birthplace  was  not  the  prin- 
cipal seat  of  his  life  and  labors;  and  it  is  still  more 
true  that  no  sect  or  denomination  has  any  exclusive 
right  in  his  fame.  He  belonged  to  the  order  of 
Christians  called  Unitarians,  but  he  belonged  still 
more  to  the  Church  Universal;  and  nothing  would 
have  grieved  him  more  than  an}'  attempt  to  shut  him 
in  to  any  enclosure  tint  shuts  out  the  pure  and  good 
of  any  name,  Catholic  or  Protestant,  Trinitarian  or 
Unitarian.  His  theological  opinions,  in  my  judgment, 
upon  a  very  recent  careful  reconsideration  of  them, 
prove  much  more  systematic,  definite,  and  positive 
than  it  is  common  to  allow;  but  they  are  also  much 
more  comprehensive,  inclusive,  and  inconsistent  with 
the  sectarian  spirit  or  form  than  they  are  sometimes 
assumed  to  be.  They  are  profoundly  conservative 
and  profoundly  radical,  holding  on  to  all  that  is  eter- 
nal, going  down  to  all  that  is  eternal,  and  going  on 
to  all  that  is  eternal.  In  the  strength  of  his  moral 
intuitions  and  convictions,  and  without  anticipating 
many  results  of  later  criticism,  or  using  the  methods 
which  a  larger  learning  has  employed,  he  simply 
ignored  and  set  aside  all  that  hampered  his  full  intel- 


REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY    CHANNING.  123 

lectual  and  moral  freedom,  and  slowly  evolved  a  sys- 
tem of  religious  thought,  which  has  recommended 
itself  more  and  more  to  spiritual  minds  in  all  branches 
of  the  Church  and  in  all  Christian  countries, — a  sys- 
tem so  profound,  simple  and  lofty,  so  humane  and 
natural,  and  yet  so  Christ-like  and  divine,  that  it  lacks 
dogmatic  and  ecclesiastical  features  almost  as  much 
as  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  or  the  personal  teach- 
ings of  the  Savior;  enters  almost  as  little  into  schol- 
astic and  technical  questions,  and  avoids,  by  reducing 
to  their  proper  insignificance,  most  of  the  sectarian 
disputes  of  the  Church. 

Chanuing  was  a  theologian,  but  not  of  the  old 
pattern.  He  studied  God,  and  reported  his  ways 
and  his  will  after  a  manner  that  had  not  been 
recognized  in  the  former  schools  of  theology.  This 
indeed  was  his  chief  service,  that  he  broke  with  the 
old  theological  methods,  and  refused  to  settle  the  con- 
troversies of  the  Church  by  an  appeal  to  Scriptures  and 
creeds,  authoritative  over  the  mind  and  heart  of  man, 
and  not  merely  authoritative  within  them,  and  by 
concurrence  with  their  testimony.  He  was  fully  con- 
vinced that  the  prevailing  system  of  dogmatic  and 
ecclesiastical  Christianity — essentially  the  same  in 
the  Romish  and  the  Protestant  Historical  Church — 
was  contrary  to  the  teaching  of  the  spirit  of  Christ, 
contrary  to  the  light  ot  natural  reason  and  conscience 
(which  indeed  has  been  offered  as  the  proof  of  its 
divinity  and  of  man's  total  corruption),  and  that  the 
power  of  the  gospel  could  be  restored  only  by  return- 


124  REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY  CHANXINO. 

ing  to  Jesus'  method  of  teaching  it,  a  method  that 
respected,  honored,  and  relied  upon  man's  essential 
relations  to  God.  instituted  in  his  rational  and  moral 
constitution. 

Caanning  recognized  no  theology  based  upon  a 
revelation  which  l>y  interpretation  separated  Christ- 
i  mity  from  the  general  history  of  humanity,  and  placed 
it,  and  must  ever  keep  it,  in  antagonism  to  Philoso- 
phy and  Lite.  He  did  not  consider  theology  as  the 
study  of  God,  within  the  covers  of  the  Bible,  as  if  that 
were  a  book  foreign  to  human  intelligence,  and  al- 
together above  and  aside  from  it.  He  resisted  stoutly, 
from  the  irrepressible  freedom  of  his  own  soul,  all 
co mpulsory  allegiance  to  the  Church,  to  the  creeds,  to 
the  past,  to  Je-us,  nay,  to  God  himself,  and  strove  to 
emancipate  all  other  souls  from  this  prostration 
before  mere  power  and  Authority.  It  was  not  neces- 
sary to  bind  him  with  cords  to  the  altar,  if  the  Being 
worshipped  there  was  entitled,  as  he  thought  he  was, 
by  his  holiness,  justice,  and  goodness,  to  the  sacrifice 
of  his  he;irt.  Freely,  joyfully,  humbly,  and  with  his 
whole  soul,  he  bowed  before  truth,  worth,  goodness, 
purity,  sacred  ness,  and  in  the  testimonies  of  his  own 
spiritual  nature  he  saw  them,  to  an  infinite  extent,  in 
the  Great  Source  of  his  own  moral  experiences.  But 
not  one  joint  would  he  bend  before  the  threats  of  mere 
power,  or  the  assumptions  of  an  authority  not  guar- 
an'.eed  by  his  rational  and  moral  nature. 

We  are  not  left  to  speculate  about  his  fundamental 
ideas.     Thi-y  are  not  only  given  with  transparent 


REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY   CHANNING.  125 

simplicity  and  unfaltering  courage,  and  with  a  reiter- 
ation that  to  many  is  wearisome  in  his  collected  writ- 
ings;  but  he  has  prefaced  his  own  works,  almost  at 
the  conclusion  of  his  life,  with  a  deliberate  statement, 
in  which  he  distinctly,  and  with  the  most  solemn 
emphasis,  calls  attention  to  the  two  ideas  which  he 
wishes  to  be  regarded  as  the  dominant  notes  and  the 
master-keys  of  his  whole  system  of  religious  and  polit- 
ical thinking  and  feeling.  One  is  unqualified  rever- 
ence for  human  nature  ;  the  other,  boundless  faith  in 
freedom.  They  are  easily  interchangeable,  and 
become  in  his  writings  one  and  the  same.  Human 
nature  is  worthy  of  unspeakable,  immea>urable  rever- 
ence, because  God  informs  it,  because  it  reve;ils  God, 
because  reason  is  the  intellectual  life  of  God  and  man, 
and  conscience  the  moral  life  of  Gocl,  which  he  digni- 
fied man  by  inviting  him  to  share.  Man  knows  G«d 
only  because  he  is  made  in  his  rational  and  moral 
image.  God  is  as  much  dependent  upon  our  moral 
and  rational  powers  for  worship,  communion,  and 
filial  love,  as  we  are  dependent  upon  his  holiness  and 
loveliness  and  paternal  character  for  an  object  which 
is  truly  adorable.  And  our  intellectual  and  moral 
powers  owe  their  worth,  their  development,  and  their 
glory  to  freedom.  This  is  God's  own  everlasting 
glory  and  life, — freedom.  Were  he  not  free  in  his 
holiness,  his  goodness,  his  thoughts,  he  could  not 
command  the  love  and  reverence  of  free  beings  ;  and 
wen-  they  not  free  to  offer  him  a  voluntary,  a  rational, 
moral  homage,  their  worship  would  be  mechanical  and 


126  REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY   CHANNING. 

worthless.  Civilization  is  nothing  but  the  triumph  of 
freedom,  and  that  is  the  victory  of  Reason  and  Con- 
science. Unreason — the  fruit  of  self-will,  ignorance, 
passion,  prejudice — shows  itself  in  barbarisms  of  a 
more  or  less  atrocious  kind ;  and  society,  even  now, 
in  its  least  deplorable  forms,  is  irrational  and  bar- 
baric. It  is  not  yet  based  upon,  and  is  not  charac- 
teristically conducted  in,  reverence  for  Reason,  but 
rests  still  on  force,  on  cupidity,  on  fear.  Govern- 
ments are  not  strong  where  they  should  be  strong,  in 
their  reliance  on  what  is  true  and  'light,  but  in  their- 
appeal  to  party  passion,  the  love  of  power,  and 
national  animosities.  Mankind  do  not  glory  in  their 
nature  as  rational  and  moral,  but  in  its  external  cir- 
cumstances. They  build  up  artificial  distinctions  of 
condition  and  caste  ;  they  glory  in  luxury  and  ostenta- 
tion ;  they  belittle  themselves  with  costume  and  equi- 
page and  titles  and  state.  And  if  Reason,  in  the 
occasional  form  of  triumphant  logic  or  vigorous  liter- 
ature, obtains  respect  it  is  often  in  disregard  of  the 
only  element  that  makes  Reason  wholly  worthy  of 
reverence, —  its  subordination  to  Conscience.  Can 
that  state  of  society  be  regarded  as  in  any  but  an 
inchoate  condition,  in  which  the  quality  that  alone 
makes  God  godlike  or  venerable  is  made  secondary 
and  subordinate,  and  that  by  an  immense  and  all-char- 
acterizing step,  to  what  is  convenient,  pleasant,  favor- 
able to  immediate  interests,  or  flattering  to  mean  and 
interested  desires?  Where  is  the  city  or  community 
in  which  the  ri_>ht  and  the  good  are  enshrined  in  the 


REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY   CHANNIXG.  127 

, 

inmost  heart ;  governing  respect  and  affection,  decid- 
ing social  station,  making  and  executing  the  laws? 
If  God  be  moral  perfection,  must  he  not  expect  and 
demand  that  the  race  made  in  his  image  should  be 
aiming  steadily  to  make  justice  and  goodness  prevail 
and  reflect  his  holiness  ?  But  this  justice  and  good- 
ness cannot  be  forced.  They  perish,  and  discharge 
themselves  of  their  essence  when  in  bondage  or  under 
force.  Hence  in  Channing's  eyes  any  state  of  com- 
motion, revolution,  or  contention  was  preferable  to 
intellectual  formalism  and  compulsory  decorum.  No 
atheistic  or  infidel  opinions  were  so  much  to  be 
dreaded  as  a  compulsory  formalism  of  creed.  That 
was  the  smothering  of  the  rational  and  moral  nature. 
Free,  it  might  wander,  but  it  would  learn  by  its  wan- 
derings, and  at  any  rate  keep  itself  alive  by  its  motion, 
and  might  some  day  return.  But  slavery  of  the  will 
was  moral  death. 

The  exalted  view  of  human  nature,  which  Channing 
had,  was  not  only  not  opposed,  but  it  grew  out  of  his 
sublime  sense  of  the  greatness  and  glory  of  God. 
Man  learned  God's  being  and  his  moral  and  rational 
attributes  from  the  constitution  of  his  own  soul,  not 
from  external  nature.  This  was  the  chief  glory  of 
man's  own  spirit,  that  it  revealed  an  Infinite  Spirit ! 
Self-reverence  was  only  the  reflection  of  the  awe  which 
God's  holiness  or  moral  grandeur  kindled  in  a  being 
who  found  himself  capable  of  recognizing  the  Divine 
existence  and  character,  by  the  mysterious  power  of 
reason  and  conscience,  which  at  once  made  him  a  par- 


128  BEV.    WILLIAM    ELLERY   CHANNING. 

taker  in  the  Divine  nature,  and  were  the  only  instru- 
ments of  his  faith  and  worship.  'J  hat  mind  is  one 
and  the  same  essence  in  God,  angels,  and  men,  is  a 
fundamental  postulate  with  him.  That  the  finite  mind 
is  of  the  nature  and  essence  of  the  Infinite  mind,  he 
everywhere  assumes  as  the  very  first  condition  of 
all  knowledge  of  God  or  intercourse  with  him.  The 
later  or  more  modern  difficulties,  which  have  arisen 
from  the  recognition  of  the  limitation  of  the  finite  as 
vitiating  all  assumed  knowledge  of  the  Infinite,  he  not 
only  docs  not  recognize,  but  his  faith,  his  character, 
his  service  to  humanity,  are  due  to  the  utter  freedom 
of  his  soul  from  this  most  fatal  and  ultimate  form  of 
skepticism.  That  the  finite  was  cut  off  from  the  Infi- 
nite by  its  conditions  was  to  him  a  proposition  as 
meaningless  as  that  the  bay  was  cut  off  from  the 
ocean,  or  could  have  no  communication  with  the 
ocean,  because  it  was  a  bay  and  not  the  ocean  itself. 
The  human  soul  was  open  to  God,  who  flowed  into  it 
in  man's  rational  and  moral  nature ;  and  more  and 
more,  as  the  moral  and  rational  nature  gre\v,  expan- 
ded, and  became  capable  of  receiving  it.  There  was 
no  pantheism  in  this  sentiment  of  God's  presence  in 
man,  for  that  involves  a  notion  against  which  Chan- 
ning's  whole  nature  revolted,  —  the  notion  that  man 
loses  himself  by  admitting  God  into  his  soul.  Accord- 
ing to  him,  man  is  freer,  the  more  nearly  he  approach- 
es, the  move  truly  he  is  possessed  by,  the  Infinite 
Freedom.  It  is  only  in  freedom,  in  the  exercise  of 
an  unenslaved  will,  that  man  can  form  any  true  con- 


KEY.    WILLIAM  ELLERT   CHAINING.  129 

ception  of  God,  who  is  freedom  itself.  But  it  is  the 
glory  of  God  that  his  freedom  is  the  freedom  of  his 
own  will;  and  will  exists,  and  can  exist,  only  in  a 
person.  God  is  a  Person,  and  as  a  person  cannot  he 
confused  or  confounded  with  other  persons.  Man  is 
a  person,  — tending,  however,  by  his  weekness  of 
will,  to  degenerate  into  a  thing.  This  indeed  is  the 
radical  evil  of  sin.  It  tends  to  fall,  nay,  it  is  itself  a 
fall  from  that  sense  of  rmral  freedom,  without  which 
moral  obedience  cannot  be  randsred.  Th3  more  man 
becomes  like  his  Maker,  the  more  truly  he  is  a  Per- 
son ;  and  God's  personality  lies  in  essence,  in  the  fact 
that  his  truth  and  goodness  are  always  matters  of 
choice,  while  his  choice  is  always  truth  and  goodness. 
Men  sometimes  talk  of  Channing's  ignorance  of  the 
necessary  conditions  of  human  life  ;  of  his  secluded 
separateness  from  the  world  ;  of  his  imperfect  ac- 
quaintance with  the  pressure  of  material  necessities, 
the  spring  of  animal  passions  and  appetites  ;  the  nec- 
essary preoccupation  of  the  masses  of  men  and  women 
with  immediate  things.  He  seems  almost  like  an 
anchorite,  a  hermit,  a  pillar  saint,  in  the  fewness  of 
his  wants,  the  wonder  he  expresses  at  the  low  pleas- 
ures men  find  so  attractive,  and  in  the  monotonous 
concentration  of  his  thoughts  upon  the  moral  and  the 
spiritual.  But  the  truth  is,  it  wras  not  that  Channing 
did  not  see  all  this,  but  that,  seeing  it,  he  saw  what 
is  still  more  real  and  vastly  more  powerful  and  invit- 
ing :  he  saw  God,  and  saw  man's  likeness  to  him, 
and  his  capacity  for  realizing  it,  and  saw  that  men 


130  REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY    CHANNING. 

mostly  did  not  see  it,  and  that  it  was  his  office  and 
privilege  to  draw  their  attention  to  it  with  all  urgency. 
Nobody  ever  lived  since  Jesus  who  recognized  the 
evil  in  men  and  the  world  with  a  deeper,  tenderer 
sorrow,  and  still  retained  so  perfect  a  possession  and 
enjoym-nt  of  his  own  faith  and  hope  for  man  and  so- 
ciety, in  God  and  his  gracious  purposes.  There  is  no 
despondency  in  his  complaints,  no  disrespect  in  his 
upbraidings,  nay,  no  impatience  in  his  enthusiasm. 
He  had  more  than  the  optimist's  content.  His  con- 
fidence is  not  in. powers  he  does  not  know,  in  a  God 
he  blindly  trusts,  in  purposes  he  cannot  sympathize 
with  !  He  has  grasped  the  nature  of  the  Divine 
method,  apprehends  its  implements,  uses  them,  and 
knows  their  temper  and  edge.  It  is  because  mind  is 
at  work,  and  is  a  Divine  instrument ;  because  truth 
and  justice  exist  in  perfection  in  God,  and  are  revealed 
in  man's  conscience ;  because  love  is  almighty,  and 
has  its  delegates  in  human  hearts, — that  he  expects 
results  from  civilization,  and  a  stage  of  progress  that 
will  make  our  present  state  appear  barbarous  ;  and 
that  he  appeals  so  urgently,  so  boldly,  so  pleadingly, 
to  men  to  keep  the  weapons  of  the  Divine  armory 
open  to  their  use,  and  make  succesful  war  on  the  lusts, 
the  ignorance,  the  moral  sloth,  the  dull  content  that 
belate  the  spring  of  heaven  on  earth,  and  perpetuate 
the  winter  of  human  discontent.  If  other  human  spirits 
had  seen  the  vision  of  God's  powers  and  promises  in 
the  human  soul  and  its  latent  capacities,  as  Charming 
saw  them,  he  would  never  have  seemed  visionary  and 


REV.   WILLIAM   ELLERY    CHANXIXG.  131 

extravagant.  It  was  the  glory  of  this  burning  and 
shining  light,  that  the  fogs  of  our  fleshly  and  self-in- 
dulgent civilization — built  on  the  urgency  of  what  is 
animal  and  superficial — did  not  quench  its  own 
exalted  beams.  Channing  was  an  idealist  in  essence. 
The  ideal  was  for  him  the  only  real,  and  he  treated  it  as 
such.  So  did  his  Master  before  him  :  so  have  all  the 
prophets,  and  so  must  all  those  do  who  have  the  heav- 
enly vision  of  God  in  their  eyes.  It  is  not  they  who 
are  fanatics  and  dreamers,  but  we  who  are  asleep,  or 
with  only  one  eye  yet  open.  They  see  and  know  what 
man  is,  and  can  prove  himself  to  be,  if  he  will — be- 
cause he  is  the  child  of  God  by  a  real  spiritual  gener- 
ation, and  has  his  Father's  attributes  at  his  command  ; 
can  claim  and  exercise  his  moral  freedom  and  his 
rational  nature. 

Of  his  preaching,  I  was  myself  the  glad  and  fortu- 
nate beneficiary,  and  am  among  the  not  too  many 
living  witnesses  to  its  transcendent  power.  There  is 
no  spot  in  Boston  so  sacred  to  me  as  the  profaned 
site  of  the  old  Federal  Street  Church  ;  for  thither,  a 
youth  of  twenty-one,  I  was  wont  to  repair  (and  it  was 
a  walk  of  several  miles)  every  other  Sunday  morn- 
ing, for  two  critical  years  of  my  life  and  theological 
studies,  to  hear  Channing  preach  !  There  were  ex- 
cellent preachers  to  be  heard  much  nearer  home  ;  but 
there  was  that  in  Channing's  mind  and  soul,  in  his 
voice,  manner,  and  look,  that  separated  him  from 
them  as  the  prophet  is  separated  from  the  priest. 
Indeed  he  did  not  preach,  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  the 


132  REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY    CHANNING. 

word.  Gowned  as  lie  was,  and  obedient  to  nil  the 
decorums  of  the  pulpit,  it  was  not  the  preacher,  but 
the  apostle  yon  saw  and  heard.  Even  in  the  pulpit, 
h  •  lived  the  things  he  saw  and  said.  The  greatness 
of  human  nature  shone  in  his  beautiful  brow,  sculp- 
tured with  thought,  and  lighted  from  within  ;  his  eye, 
so  full  and  blue,  was  lustrous  with  a,  vision  of  God, 
and  seemed  almost  an  open  door  into  the  shining 
presence  His  voice,  sweet,  round,  unstrained,  full, 
though  low,  lingered  as  if  with  awed  delay  upon  the 
words  that  articulated  his  dearest  thoughts,  and  trem- 
bled with  an  ever-restrnined  but  most  contagious  emo-  , 
tion.  He  w;is  intensely  present  in  his  thoughts,  as  if 
just  born  from  his  soul,  and  dressed  from  his  lips, 
although  he  u.-unlly  (always  in  my  experience)  spoke 
from  a  manuscript.  But,  while  his  individuality  was 
inexpressibly  commanding,  it  gave  no  suggestion  of 
the  love  of  personal  influence.  He  used  the  word  "I" 
with  the  freedom  of  the  Master,  but  it  conveyed  the 
sense,  "not I,  but  the  Father  in  me;  not  I,  but  the 
truth  I  speak  ;  not  you,  but  the  nature  you  represent ; 
not  you,  but  humanity  and  God  in  you  and  in  us!" 
He  r-'se  slou-ly,  read  a  hymn,  and  began  his  dis- 
course (for  seldom  in  my  d;iy  was  he  able  to  spare 
much  of  his  strength  for  the  preliminary  services, 
conducted  by  his  colle.-iguc)  on  a  plane  so  level  to 
the  feet  of  the  simplest  of  his  hearers  that  few 
noticed  the  difficulty  of  the  slow  but  steady  ascent 
he  always  mnde,  carrying  his  rapt  hearers  with  him  by 
the  power  of  his  thought,  the  calm  insistence  of  his 


REV.    WILLIAM    ELLERY    CHAINING.  133 

conviction,  and  the  solemn  earnestness  of  his  spirit, 
until  they  found  themselves  standing  at  a  height  from 
•which  visions  of  divine  things,  in  their  true  propor- 
tions and  real  perspective;,  became  easy  and  sponta- 
neous. There  was  no  muscular  strain  or  contortion 
in  his  Iknlxs  or  face  or  voice  ;  no  excitement  of  a  flesh- 
ly origin  ;  no  false  fervor,  or  false  emphasis  ;  no  loss 
of  perfect  dignity  and  self-possession.  And  there 
was  little  in  the  words  themselves  to  fix  attention, 
except  their  purity  and  grace.  It  was  the  subject 
that  came  forward  and  remained  in  the  memory.  He 
left  you  not  thinking  of  him,  nor  of  his  rhetoric.  He 
had  no  st.-irtling  figures,  no  brilliant  fancies,  no  sharp 
points  ;  little  for  admiration  or  praise  ;  everything  for 
reflection,  for  inspiration,  and  for  illumination.  There 
was  one  othur  peculiarity  in  his  preaching.  lie 
preached  only  on  grent  themes,  and  this  made  his 
sermons  always  timely,  for  great  subjects  are  ever  in 
order.  So  profoundly  helpful,  so  inspiring  was  his 
preaching,  that  I,  for  one,  lived  on  it,  from  fortnight 
to  fortnight,  and  went  to  it  every. time,  with  the 
expectation  and  the  experience  of  receiving  the  bread 
of  heaven  on  which  I  was  to  live  and  grow,  until  the 
manna  fell  again  ;  »nd  men  of  all  ages  had  much  the 
same  feeling. 

When,  for  the  first  time,  I  saw  Channing  out  of  the 
pulpit,  I  was  as  much  surprised  at  his  diminutive 
form  as  if,  expecting  a  giant,  I  h;id  met  a  dwarf!  He 
had  seemed  to  me  a  large' and  tall  man  in  his  pulpit ; 
but  I  soon  found  that,  slight  and  low  as  his  frame 


134  REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY    CHANNING. 

was,  nearness  and  familiarity  took  nothing  from  its 
dignity,  and  suggested  nothing  fragile  or  weak. 
Indeed,  his  attenuated  and  lowly  figure  really  in- 
creased the  sense  of  his  moral  majesty  and  intellect- 
ual eminence.  Plis  presence  was  more  awful,  simple 
and  gentle  as  he  was,  than  that  of  any  human  being  I 
ever  saw.  It  forbade  familiarity,  silenced  garrulity, 
checked  ease,  and  had  something  of  the  effect  of  a 
supernatural  visitor ;  awing  levity,  and  making  even 
common  speech,  or  speech  at  all,  difficult.  He  was 
so  unconscious  of  this  effect,  so  little  willing  to  pro- 
duce it,  so  anxious  to  make  others  free  and  commu- 
nicative, that  it  became  pathetic  to  witness  the  par- 
alysis of  tongue  and  motion  that  usually  fell  on  those 
whom  he  in  vain  tried  to  set  at  liberty  from  his  over- 
powering personality.  Doubtless  there  were  familiar 
and  domestic  friends,  and  perhaps  men  who  had 
grown  up  with  him,  that  escaped  this  awe,  and  over- 
came this  distance,  and  children  did  not  seem  to  feel 
it ;  but  just  in  proportion  to  the  sense  and  sensibility 
of  young  men  and  women  was  it  irresistible.  1  have 
said  that  Channing  was  not  the  kind  of  preacher  Bos- 
ton usually  made  and  welcomed.  Fortunately  he  did 
not  settle,  of  choice,  in  a  congregation  most  charac- 
teristic of  Boston, —  not  in  Brattle  street,  where  he 
was  called,  but  in  Federal  street,  then  comparatively 
inconspicuous, — and  so  he  made,  by  degrees,  out  of 
a  less  fixed  and  wool-dyed  class  of  citizens,  a  congre- 
gation of  his  own,  to  which  he  communicated  much 
of  his  own  spirit  and  something  of  his  pwn  views. 


KEV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY   CHANNING.  135 

But  it  was  in  his  character  of  philanthropist  that  he 
had  most  to  do  with  shaping  a  new  Boston,  and  most 
to  contend  with ;  and  there  his  personal  courage  and 
commanding  individuality  were  most  displa}7ed.  I 
must  not  go  at  length  into  the  history  of  his  relations 
to  the  politics,  the  pauperism,  the  anti-slavery  agita- 
tion, the  questions  of  free  speech  and  free  opinion, 
which  are  really  the  places  where  his  character  and 
even  his  views  are  best  illustrated.  But  I  should 
wholly  fail  in  the  completeness  even  of  an  outline  of 
Channing,  if  I  did  not  trace  the  line  of  his  course 
upon  these  public  questions. 

Everybody  knows  how  much  of  Channing's  mind 
and  heart,  courage  and  inspiration,  went  into  the 
application  of  his  views,  —  God's  glorious  purpose  in 
man's  creation,  the  dignity  of  human  nature  and  the 
sacredness  of  freedom,  of  will,  speech,  thought,  and 
conduct,  — to  the  working  institutions  of  government, 
of  business,  of  charity,  of  domestic  life.  He  was 
above  all  things  a  man,  and  then  only  a  minister,  and 
no  zeal  or  fidelity  to  his  profession,  incompatable 
with  or  overriding  his  duties  as  a  man,  could  have 
satisfied  him.  Indeed,  a  Christain.  minister  in  his 
eyes  was  only  a  man,  realizing  under  Christ's  teach- 
ing the  full  dignity  of  humanity,  and  working  for  its 
rights  and  its  development  in  the  sphere  of  our  pres- 
ent existence.  Any  effort  to  shut  him  up  in  the  pul- 
pit or  within  the  clerical  profession,  or  to  cut  off  his 
right,  his  duty,  his  opportunity  of  making  his  moral 
and  spiritual  convictions  forces  in  society  at  large, 


136  REV.    WILLIAM    ELLERY   CHANGING. 

would  nece.«-sarily  have  been  unavailing.  He  knew 
no  distinction  between  his  manhood  and  his  ministry, 
and  accepted  no  rules  a>  binding  on  him  which  were 
not  binding  on  all.  His  field  was  the  world,  his  con- 
gregation the  human  race  ;  his  offit-e  an  ordination  to 
advance,  protect,  and  serve  all  the  higher  interests  of 
his  kind.  There  was  nothing  strictly  new  in  this 
position.  All  the  noblest  and  greatest  men  have 
been  distinguished  by  a  certain  refusal  to  observe 
conventional  bounds,  or  to  make  their  special  pro- 
fession or  calling  less  than  that  of  servant  of  all  truth 
and  all  good.  Some  of  the  greatest  poets  have  been 
also  theologians  ;  great  lawyers,  publicists  ;  and  great 
physici  ins,  philanthropists ;  great  artists,  thinkers 
and  reformers. 

New  England  never  lacked  men  in  the  ministry  who 
felt  it  their  right  and  duty  to  guide  and  watch  over 
political  sentiment,  and  Boston  had  had  her  Chauncy 
and  Mayhe\v,  not  to  speak  of  her  Eliot  and  Mathers. 
But  in  ordinary  times  the  tendency  of  all  professions 
is  to  become  special,  and  to  have  an  ethics  each  of  its 
own.  Unprofessional,  unclerical,  are  words  of  signi- 
ficant meaning.  No  doubt,  too,  there  is  a  wholesome 
instinct  which  teaches  men  that  every  profession  is  a 
jealous  mistress,  and  demands  the  exclusive  use  of  the 
time  and  talents  of  its  followers,  and  that  a  division  of 
labor  and  a  certain  mental  and  moral  uniform  peculiar 
to  each  best  favor  the  interest  of  all.  Departure  from 
this  practical  rule  is  only  justified  when  those  who 
break  it  are  clearly  seen  to  be  men  of  exceptional 


REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY    CHANNIXG,  137 

greatnesss  and  competency  to  larger  influence  and 
larger  work  than  belong  to  any  one  calling  in  life. 
Channing  was  such  a  man, — a  philosopher,  a  philan- 
thropist, a  statesman,  a  poet, —  nothing  less  than  the 
general  condition  and  prospects  of  the  whole  race 
could  engage  his  attention,  or  limit  his  sense  of respon- 
sibleness.  Ho  was  accordingly  an  observer  and  stu- 
dent of  other  countries  and  their  moral,  social,  and 
political  prospects.  He  was  deeply  interested  in  all 
experiments  for  increasing  popular  intelligence,  im- 
proving the  condition  of  the  poor,  or  widening  polit- 
ical rights.  He  understood  the  relations  and  influence 
of  men  across  national  boundaries.  The  French,  the 
English,  the  German  influence  upon  humanity  and  the 
fortunes  of  Christianity  closely  concerned  him,  at  a 
time  when  few  could  see  over  the  fences,  which,  how- 
ever they  narrow  the  ,view,  do  not  prevent  the  circu- 
lation of  a  common  human  atmosphere.  And  in  the 
same  way  he  was  profoundly  interested,  at  a  time 
when  interest  was  rare,  in  the  mutual  relations  of  the 
different  classes  of  society.  Singularly  tempted  to 
devote  himself  to  his  own  excellent  and  fortunate  class 
— refined,  decorous,  solid,  and  satisfied,  and  all  the 
more  tempted  by  the  fact  that  his  profession  justified 
and  expected  a  certain  confinement  within  parochial 
bounds, —  he  could  not  limit  his  views  or  his  sympa- 
thies or  his  obligation  within  any  class  lines.  He  re- 
verted to  the  original  office  of  the  ministry,  when  men 
were  not  settled  over  congregations,  but  sent  forth 
apostles  of  truth  and  mercy  to  all  men.  And  although 


138  REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY  .CHANNING. 

he  was  precluded,  by  his  want  of  health,  from  active 
missionary  or  active  public  labors,  and  lived  a  peculi- 
arly settled  and  uniform  life,  his  mind,  his  heart  trav- 
eled widely,  and  his  pen  was  a  missionary  and  a  pub- 
lic servant  that  recognized  the  claims  of  the  whole 
world. 

Few  men  in  this  country  or  any  other  have  been  as 
universal  in  their  survey,  their  aims,  their  breadth  of 
view,  and  the  comprehensiveness  of  their  purposes  as 
Channing.  With  the  tastes  nnd  habits  of  a  recluse, 
he  was  mentally  a  cosmopolite  and  a  publicist.  The 
least  of  a  partisan  and  a  politician,  he  had  all  the  feel- 
ings and  all  the  capacity  of  a  statesman.  Limited  by 
his  physical  fragility  to  a  narrow  walk  of  personal  ob- 
servation and  intercourse,  he  went  in  spirit  and  by  the 
aid  of  his  intellectual  and  moral  sympathies  into  the 
homes  .and  shops  and  fields,  and  felt  the  closest  and 
warmest  interest  in  the  trials,  sorrows,  wrongs,  and 
exposures  of  the  common  people,  and  especially  those 
most  overlooked.  Tuckerman,  his  most  intimate 
friend,  the  apostle  to  the  poor  of  Boston,  found  in  no 
one  so  patient  and  so  helpful  a  supporter  and  admirer 
as  Channing,  who  envied  his  .-kill,  his  success,  and  his 
delight  in  this  gracious  service.  His  advice  and  his 
encouragement  to  the  laboring  classes,  which  reached 
many  countries,  drew  forth  expressions  of  gratitude 
that  gave  Channing  more  satisfaction  than  he  could 
receive  from  the  admiration  of  literary  critics,  or  the 
crowds  of  cultivated  people  that  hung  on  his  lips. 
The  ministry  to  the  poor  in  Boston  owed  most  of  its 


REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY   CHANNING.  139 

permanent  interest  to  his  direction  and  encourage- 
ment He  was  profoundly  concerned  for  the  elevation, 
the  happiness,  the  substantial  good  of  the  humbler 
ranks  of  the  people.  It  was  not  a  professional,  tech- 
nical interest  of  the  ordinary  ministerial  kind,  lest 
their  souls  should  be  lost,  but  a  sad  sense  of  what  they 
were  losing  in  not  knowing,  serving,  and  loving 
God. 

There  were  none  of  the  materials  for  a  fanatic  in 
C banning  ;  and  yet  fanatics  have  seldom  gone  as  far 
in  their  madness  or  narrowness  of  view  as  Channing 
went  in  his  sobriety  and  comprehensiveness.  He 
hoped  and  expected  more  of  all  men  than  perfection- 
ists, socialists,  and  idealogists  have  looked  for  and 
demanded  ;  but  he  had  the  most  practical  sense  of  the 
difficulties  in  the  way.  He  had  the  patience  of  God 
and  geologic  time  with  the  slowness  of  the  advance. 
Nobody  could  have  told  him  much  about  the  obstruc- 
tions and  trying  conditions,  under  the  sense  of  which 
most  men  give  up  the  problem.  He  was  hopeful  in 
full  view  of  all  obstacles,  and  active  and  earnest  in 
spite  of  his  knowledge  how  long  and  how  much  action 
and  effort  would  be  required  for  an  indefinite  time  to 
come. 

His  course  in  regard  to  the  anti-slavery  movement 
is  perhaps  the  best  illustration  of  his  character  as  an 
humanitarian  and  a  citizen.  By  position,  by  taste, 
and  by  associates,  he  was  one  of  the  men  likely  to  feel 
most  what  was  called  the  violence,  the  narrowness, 
and  the  vulgarity  of  that  movement,  as  it  first  presen-. 


140  REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY    CHANNING. 

ted  itself  in  Massachusetts.  Its  starters  and  .support- 
ers outraged  the  taste,  the  ethics,  the  customs  of  the 
best  people.  It  looked  wild,  fierce,  revolutionary, 
impious,  much  as  the  earliest  pretentious  of  Christian- 
ity must  have  seemed  to  devout  and  influential  Jews 
in  the  holy  city.  As  a  rule,  Christian  ministers  gave 
a  wide  berth  to  its  advocates.  Channing  regarded  it 
doubtless  with  distaste,  and  turned  a  cold  shoulder 
upon  its  first  apostles,  from  genuine  doubts  of  its  being 
in  right  hands,  or  advocated  in  a  legal  and  Christian 
way.  In  this,  he  only  exhibited  the  uniform  caution 
of  his  conscientious  mind,  which  never  allowed  itself 
to  be  swept  off  the  base  of  its  own  solid  judgment. 
It  was  always  his  judgment  —  which  was  his  con- 
science— that  had  to  be  set  on  fire,  not  his  feelings, 
and  it  did  not  catch  prematurely,  and,  when  it  did,  it 
burnt  with  a  flame  that  could'not  be  quenched. 

When  Channing  began — and  it  was  far  earlier  than 
any  of  the  sober  and  weighty  minds  about  him — to 
see  and  feel  what  was  involved  in  the  anti-slavery 
cause  ;  what  this  fierce  indignation  was, — the  cry  of 
outraged  justice  and  down-trampled  humanity;  what 
a  holy  sense  of  wrong  done  to  the  human  soul  lay  at 
the  bottom  of  the  wrath  that  made  religious,  social, 
and  political  conventionalities,  so  far  as  they  condon- 
ed or  supported  slavery,  objects  of  anger  and  derision, 
— he  transferred  his  sympathies  from  the  conservative 
and  popular  side  of  Boston  taste  and  feeling  to  the 
radical,  the  unpopular,  the  odious  side  of  anti-slavery 
reformers.  I  do  not  think  he  counted  the  cost  of  this 


REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY   CHAXNING.  141 

or  of  any,  course  he  ever  took  ;  but  he  knew  as  well  as 
any  man  the  way  in  which  it  would  be  received  by 
his  friends  and  lovers.  His  difficulties  wore  never 
those  of  the  politician,  the  sectarian,  or  the  time-ser- 
ver. His  slowness  was  always  his  desire  to  be  right 
with  God  and  his  conscience ;  his  quickness,  the  zeal 
he  had  in  the  service  of  truth  and  duty,  the  moment 
he  knew  them.  What  services  he  rendered  to  the 
anti-slavery  cause  ;  what  he  did  to  clarify,  exalt,  and 
make  possible  the  views  that  afterwards  became 
acceptable  and  potent, — the  world  knows  and  aboli- 
tionists concede.  But  he  never  would  or  could  join 
any  organization  that  compromised  his  least  convic- 
tion, or  controlled  his  own  sense  of  a  divine  policy. 
He  j»poke  for  himself;  he  stood  for  himself.  He  had 
neither  the  concurrence  of  the  conservatives  nor  the 
radicals.  He  offended  the  abolitionists  ;  he  disgusted 
the  Whigs ;  he  pleased  only  God  and  his  own  con- 
science, and  served  the  great  cause  of  freedom  with 
transcendent  power,  because  his  devotion  to  it  was 
neither  fanatical,  partial,  nor  local,  and  what  he  wrote 
on  anti-slavery  is  true  for  all  time.  His  anti-slavery 
was  a  logical  and  moral  consequent  of  his  reverence 
for  human  nature. 

Channing's  course  in  regard  to  the  trial  of  Abner 
Kneeland  for  atheism  was  an  equal  illustration  of  his 
faith  in  the  self-protecting  power  of  the  truth,  and  the 
safety  of  freedom  of  opinion  and  expression.  It  re- 
quired immense  moral  courage  to  head  the  petition 
which  he  also  wrote  for  his  release  from  prison  and 


142  KEV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY    CHANNING. 

punishment.  But  in  the  community,  in  all  the  world, 
where  public  opinion  is  most  worth  attending  to, 
because  rarely  impulsive  or  extravagant,  Channing  had, 
many  times  in  his  life,  to  comfort  it  with  protests  or 
resistance,  which  lelt  him  open  to  all  sorts  of  suspi- 
cion in  the  very  places  where  his  reputation  was 
most  valuable,  his  piety,  his  faith,  his  scrupulosity. 
He  kept  the  company  of  publicans  and  sinners  ;  like 
his  Master,  he  could  not  judge  those  universally  con- 
demned. His  moral  courage — because  it  had  no  con- 
ceit, no  superficial  passion,  no  partisan  fire  in  it  — 
was  truly  sublime.  His  only  cowardice  was  the  rare 
and  honorable  fear  of  being  left  alone  with  an  accus- 
ing conscience. 

Those  who  think  such  a  soul  and  such  a  thinker 
and  spiritual  force  can  pass  by,  can  be  repeated  and 
improved  upon,  superceded  and  displaced,  outgrown 
and  outshined,  are  dull  observers  of  the  permanent 
place  which  such  rare  spirits  hold  in  the  uncrowded 
meridian,  where  their  stars  shine  together  forever. 
Religious  genius  is  God's  rarest  insp;ration  and 
least  common  gift  in  any  transcendent  form.  If  we 
haunt  and  search  the  remotest  antiquity  to  find  and  to 
sit  at  the  feet  of  poets,  artists,  s-iges,  and  hang  our 
freshest  wreaths  upon  the  spectral  brows  of  shades 
whose  personal  history  is  unknown,  when  will  the  day 
come  th  it  St.  Augustine,  Borrorneo,  a  Keinpis,  Fen- 
elon,  and  Guion,  Bossuet,  Taylor,  and  Butler,  and 
Channing  are  to  be  esteemed  less  than  ever  fresh  fonts 
of  Divine  inspiration  ?  Channing  belongs  to  the  Church 


REV.    WILLIAM   ELLERY   CHANNIXG.  143 

Universal  and  for  all  time.  But  he  had  an  American 
birthplace,  near  the  sea  that  unites  all,  and  in  a  place 
that  is  more  and  more  frequented  and  cosmopolitan. 
It  is  fit  that  on  this  spot  his  eternal  memory  should 
have  its  monument.  Catholic,  and  all  the  more  Cath- 
olic, because  Unitarian,  he  must  always  wear  the  Unity 
of  God,  not  in  its  vulgar  sense,  but  in  its  spiritual 
significance,  as  the  central  jewel  in  his  coronet  of  shin- 
ing doctrines.  He  suffered  for  his  testimony  to  this 
concealed,  neglected,  or  perverted  "  Simplicity  of 
Christ,"  and  his  disciples  and  fellow-christians  would 
be  ungrateful  to  forget  that  they  owe  him  special  de- 
votion, and  the  devotion  of  publishing  and  proclaiming 
him,  all  the  more  because  his  fidelity  to  them  cost  him 
dear,  and  took  him  out  of  the  general  ranks  of  Christ- 
endom to  be  their  conscript  soldier.  He  was  a  cos- 
mopolite, but  he  was  none  the  less  a  thorough  Amer- 
ican ;  and  the  genius  of  America  possessed  him, — 
the  hopefulness,  the  progressiveness,  the  freshness, 
the  courage  and  unconventionality  of  the  new  hemi- 
sphere. He  belonged  in  a  new  world,  a  democratic 
Stute,  a  country  with  an  ample  horizon.  He  was 
born  by  the  sea,  he  died  in  the  mountains.  He  was 
bred  in  the  country,  he  lived  in  the  city,  he  passed 
awa}'  in  a  place  that  knew  him  not,  in  the  heart  of  the 
most  American  of  American  States,  and  on  a  journey. 
These  things  are  typical.  He  belonged  in  no  one 
place ;  and  his  spirit  and  influence  are  national,  and 
still  on  a  journey.  The  sea  and  the  mountains  claim 
him.  Places  he  knew  not  have  a  sacred  interest  in 


144  REV.    WILLIAM    ELLERY    CHANNIXG. 

his  history.  I  believe  the  nation  will  some  day, 
remembering  his  physical  birth  in  Rhode  Island,  his 
spiritual  birth  in  Virginia,  his  life  work  in  Massachu- 
setts, his  death  in  Vermont,  his  relations  to  the  most 
significant  reformation  and  revolution  in  religious  life, 
because  a  thorough  reversal  of  base  in  the  whole  order 
of  theology,  place  his  monument  in  the  Capitol,  as  the 
only  place  central  enough  to  express  his  national  sig- 
nificance. But  it  will  not  be  until  his  name  and  place 
as  the  greatest  of  American  prophets  is  fully  recog- 
nized. And  that  will  come  when  the  candid  study  of 
his  works  ai  d  his  life  shall  show,  with  universal  con- 
sent, that,  although  a  generation  or  two  in  advance  of 
his  time,  he  proclaimed  and  illustrated  the  kind  of 
religion,  the  form  of  Christianity,  which  is  alone 
adapted  to  a  universal  spread,  and  destined  to  become 
a  universal  leaven,  and  the  true  Bread  of  Life  "to  the 
American  people  ;  and  that  what  is  permanently  their 
faith  is  sure  at  last  to  be  the  faith  of  the  whole  world. 
So  high,  so  wide,  so  deep  is  the  claim  of  William 
Ellery  dimming.- 


CHAPTER  TIL 


REV.   LORENZO  DOW,   METHODIST. 


LORENZO  Dow  was  born  in  Coventry,  Tolland 
county,  Connecticut,  October  16,  1777.  His  parents 
were  born  in  the  same  town,  and  were  descended 
from  the  English.  He  says  :  "My  parents  were  very 
tender  towards  their  children,  and  endeavored  to  edu- 
cate them  well,  both  in  religion  and  common  learning." 
When  he  was  only  four  years  old,  at  play  with  anoth- 
er child,  Lorenzo  asked  him,  "If  he  ever  said  his 
prayers"  ;  and  he  answering  "no,"  Lorenzo  said,  "You 
are  wicked,  and  I  will  not  play  with  you,"  and  left 
him. 

Soon  after,  he  says,  "Being  in  another  neighbor- 
hood, I  associated  with  one  who  would  swear  and  lie  ; 
which  proved  harm  to  me." 

He  says,  "After  I  h;id  arrived  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years*  my  hopes  of  worldly  pleasure  were  greatly 
blasted  by  an  illness,  occasioned  by  overheating  my- 
self, and  drinking  a  quantity  of  cold  water." 


146  REV.    LORENZO   DOW. 

He  was  all  along  a  serious  minded  boy,  and  was 
united  at  length  with  the  methodists,  by  whom  he 
was  for  a  long  time  greatly  tried  because  they  were 
full  of  objections  to  him.  He  was  acquainted  with  the 
famous  Jesse  Lee,  and  with  many  of  the  early  metho- 
dist  preachers. 

He  believed  in  dreams,  of  which  he  relates  several ; 
one,  which  is  as  follows  :  "I  dreamed  that  in  a  strange 
house,  I  sat  by  the  fire,  a  messenger  came  in  and 
said,  'There  are  three  ministers  come  from  England, 
and  in  a  few  moments  will  pass  by  this  way.'  I  fol- 
lowed him  out,  and  he  disappeared.  I  ran  over  a 
wood-pile,  and  jumped  upon  a  log  to  have  a  fair  view 
of  them  ;  presently  three  men  came  over  a  hill  from 
the  west  towards  me  ;  the  foremost  dismounted  ;  the 
other  two,  one  of  whom  was  on  a  white  horse,  the 
other  on  a  reddish  one  ;  both,  with  the  three  horses, 
disappeared.  I  said  to  the  first, 'who  are  you?'  He 
replied,  'John  Wesley, 'and  walked  towards  the  east ; 
he  turned  around,  and  looking  me  in  the  face,  said, 
'  God  has  called  you  to  preach  the  gospel ;  you  have 
been  a  long  time  between  hope  and  fear,  but  there 
is  a  dispensation  of  the  gospel  committed  to  3^011. 
Woe  unto  you  if  you  preach  not  the  gospel.' 

"I  was  struck  with  horror  and  amazement  to  think 
how  ho  should  know  the  exercises  of  my  mind,  when 
1  knew  he  had  never  heard  of  me  before  !  1  still  fol- 
lowed him  to  the  eastward,  and  expressed  an  obser- 
vation for  which  ho  with  his  countenance  reproved 
niQ,  for  the  better  improvement  of  my  time.  At 


REV.    LORENZO    DOW.  147 

length  we  came  to  a  log  house  where  negroes  lived ; 
the  door  being  open,  he  attempted  twice  to  go  in, but 
the  smoke  prevented  him  ;  he  said,  'You  may  go  in 
if  you  have  a  mind,  and  if  not,  followme.'  I  followed 
him  a  few  rods,  where  was  an  old  log  house,  two 
stories  high,  in  one  corner  of  which  my  parents 
looked  out  of  the  window,  and,  said  they  to  him, 
'Who  are  you?'  He  replied,  'John  Wesley ;' 'well,' 
said  they,  'what  becomes  of  doubting  Christians?'  He 
replied,  'there  are  many  serious  Christians  who  are 
afraid  of  death.  They  dare  not  believe  they  are  con- 
verted, for  fear  of  being  deceived ;  and  they  are 
afraid  to  disbelieve  it  lest  they  should  grieve  the  Spirit 
of  God,  so  they  live  and  die,  and  go  into  the  other 
wo  fid,  and  their  souls  to  heaven  with  a  guard  of 
angels.  I  then  said,  'will  the  day  of  judgment  come 
as  we  read,  and  the  sun  and  moon  fall  from  heaven, 
and  the  earth  and  works  be  burnt  ?  To  which  he 
answered, 'It  is  not  for  you  to  know  the  times  and 
seasons,  which  God  h  ith  put  in  his  own  power ;  but 
read  the  word  of  God  with  attention,  and  let  that  be 
your  guide. 

"I  said,  'are  you  more  than  fifty- five ?' He  replied, 
'do  you  not  remember  of  reading  an  account  of  my 
death,  in  the  history  of  my  life?'  I  turned  partly 
round,  in  order  to  consider,  and  after  I  had  recollec- 
ted it,  I  was  about  to  answer  him,  'yes' ;  when  I 
looked  and  behold  he  was  gone,  and  I  saw  him  no 
more.  It  set  me  to  shaking  and  quaking  to  such  a 
degree  that  it  waked  me  up. 


148  REV.    LORENZO   DOW. 

The  appearance  of  his  person  was  the  very  same  as 
he  who  appeared  to  me  three  times  in  the  dream 
when  I  was  about  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  who 
said  that  he  would  come  to  me  again,  etc." 

I  was  well  acquainted  with  Lorenzo  Dow  when  I 
wa^j  settled  in  Woodstock,  Connecticut.  Lorenzo  and 
his  wife  Peggy,  visited  that  town  several  years  in  suc- 
cession for  the  benefit  of  the  Woodstock  springs,  the 
waters  of  which  were  considerably  celebrated  at  that 
time.  Lor-  nzo  was  the  only  man  who  wore  a  long 
beard ;  and  his  was  more  than  a  foot  long.  He  was 
a  very  intelligent  and  gentlemanly  man,  and  as  he  had 
travelled  extensively,  his  conversation  was  very  en- 
tertaining. He  had  an  appointment  to  preach  in  the 
open  air  one  afternoon.  I  saw  him  in  the  morning, 
and  said  :  "Mr.  Dow,  it  looks  as  though  it  would  rain, 
and  you  had  better  go  into  our  meeting  house."  He 
looked  at  me  with  great  surprise,  and  said,  "would 
you  allow  it?"  I  said,  "yes,  sir,  we  do  not  want  it 
ourselves,  and  you  are  perfectly  welcome  to  it."  He 
replied  :  "I  have  not  been  accustomed  to  receive  such 
courtesy  from  congregational  ministers." 

Lorenzo  Dow  was  peculiar  in  many  respects.  Many 
supposed  he  had  the  power  of  working  miracles, 
and  of  pointing  out  rogues,  and  of  discovering  things 
that  were  lost ;  but  though  he  was  a  dreamer,  as  we 
have  just  seen,  his  power  of  working  miracles  is  to  be 
ascribed  to  his  knowledge  of  human  nature.  He  had 
seen  so  many,  and  had  so  large  an  experience,  that 
uo  man  possessed  a  docper  knowledge  of  the  bumao 


RET.    LORENZO   DOW.  149 

heart,  and  of  its  various  windings  and  turnings  than 
he.  The  following  cases  related  of  him  will  suffi- 
ciently illustrate  this  statement 

While  Mr.  Dow  was  travelling  through  Maryland, 
a  poor  man  came  and  informed  him  that  some  one  had 
stolen  his  ass,  and  wished  Mr.  Dow  to  be  good  enough 
to  tell  him  where  it  was.  Lorenzo  informed  him  that 
he  possessed  no  power  of  knowing  such  things.  But 
the  man  had  heard  that  Lorenzo  Dow  knew  every- 
thing, and  could  not  be  persuaded  to  believe  anything 
else.  At  length,  when  it  was  evident  that  the  man 
could  not  be  otherwise  disposed  of,  Mr.  Dow  said  he 
would  find  the  ass  if  he  could.  "  But  do  you  suspect 
any  person  of  stealing  it,"  said  Mr.  Dow.  "Yes," 
said  the  man,  very  promptly,  "I  think  I  know  the 
very  man,  but  cannot  be  certain."  "Will  he  be  at 
meeting?"  "Yes,  sir;  he  is  sure  to  be  there."  Mr. 
Dow  said  no  more,  but  picking  up  a  stone  about  as 
large  as  his  two  fists,  carried  it  to  church  with  him 
and  laid  it  on  the  desk  beside  him,  so  that  all  the  con- 
gregation might  see  it.  How  many  inquiries  ran 
throngh  their  minds  about  the  stone  during  the  ser- 
mon no  one  knows.  But  after  he  had  finished  preach- 
ing, he  took  the  stone  in  his  hand,  and,  addressing 
the  audience,  said,  "someone  has  stolen  an  ass  belong- 
ing to  Mr.  A.,  a  poor  man — the  thief  is  here  ;  he  is 
before  me  now  ;  and  I  intend  after  turning  round  three 
times,  to  hit  him  on  the  head  with  this  stone."  Ac- 
cordingly he  turned  round  twice  rather  slowly,  but 
the  third  time  he  came  round  with  great  fury,  as  if 


150  REV.    LORENZO   DOW. 

going  to  throw  the  stone  into  the  midst  of  the  men 
before  him,  when,  to  the  no  little  amusement  of  the 
company,  and  the  satisfaction  of  the  man  who  lost  the 
ass,  the  very  man  who  was  suspected  of  the  theft, 
dodged  his  head  behind  the  pew.  "Now,"  said  Mr. 
Do\v,  "I  will  not  expose  you  any  further,  but  if  you 
don't  leave  that  ass  to-night  where  you  got  it,  I  will 
publish  you  to-morrow."  The  ass  was  accordingly 
returned.  A  merchant  of  veracity  in  Cincinnati, 
vouches  for  the  truth  of  the  story. 

I  heard  Lorenzo  preach  several  times.  The  tirst 
time  was  in  1823  in  Providence,  R.  I.  It  was  in  the 
evening  and  all  the  college,  boys  attended.  One  side 
of  the  gallery  was  filled  with  white  people  and  the 
other  was  colored.  We  students  sat  in  the  gallery 
with  the  whites.  Some  of  the  stiidsnts  laughed  at  some 
of  his  odd  expressions,  when  Dow  stopped,  and  look- 
ing up  at  the  gallery  where  we  were,  said,  with  an 
emphasis  peculiar  to  himself,  and  pointing  up  with  his 
finger  to  our  gallery,  "Why  can't  }'ou  white  folks  up 
there  sit  as  still  as  them  black  folks  up  tlieret"  point- 
ing to  the  other  side. 

The  next  time  I  heard  him  was  in  1831  in  the  Court 
House  in  Brooklyn,  Conn.  He  commenced  by  say- 
ing "We  shall  omit  singing  for  brevity's  sake,  and  as 
to  praying  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  do  your  work — 
you  must  pray  for  yourselves, — therefore  we  shall 
omit  praying;  and  now,  as  to  preaching,  we  will  see 
about  that.  But  first  I  don't  know  whether  I  shall 
stand  or  sit.  The  Jewish  doctors  when  they  taught 


REV.    LORENZO   DOW.  151 

the  people,  sat,  and  our  Lord  when  he  taught  them, 
sat,  and  I  think  I  shall  sit";  so  saying  he  took  his 
seat  upon  the  judge's  bench,  half  way  facing  the  peo- 
ple. "  jYly  text,"  he  said,  "you  will  always  remem- 
ber. There  is  not  a  man,  woman  or  child  present 
who  will  not  remember  it  as  long  as  they  live." 
Then  taking  out  his  watch  and  holding  it  up  as  high 
as  he  could  reach  he  said  "Watch  !  Watch  ! !  Watch  ! ! ! 
that  is  my  text."  At  this  time  of  writing  it  is  more 
than  fifty  years  since  Dow  uttered  this  prophecy,  and 
as  the  writer  remembers  it,  it  is  probable  that  all  the 
others  do. 

Lorenzo  was  naturally  of  a  slender  constitution  and 
frequently  subject  to  attacks  of  illness,  such  as  vom- 
iting, headache,  asthma,  nervous  depression,  etc. ,  yet 
he  endured  more  hardships  and  exposure  than  any 
other  man  of  that  age,  and  lived  to  be  fifty-six 
years  old. 

In  1800  Lorenzo  visited  Ireland.  He  says,  "Sun- 
day, February  23, 1  went  fourteen  miles  and  preaihed 
four  times  ;  many  felt  the  word,  and  it  was  a  happy 
day  for  me. 

"March  6.  A  magistrate  hailed  me  on  the  road 
and  said,  'Where  are  you  going?' 

A.     'To  Larne.' 

Q.     'Where  did  you  come  from?' 

A.     'Balleycarey.' 

Q.     'What  is  your  occupation?' 

A.     'I  have  got  none.' 

Q.     'Where  do  you  belong?' 


152  REV.   LORENZO   DOW. 

\ 

A.     'No  where.' 

Q.     'What,  are  you  strolling  about  the  country?' 

A.     'Yes  ;  I  have  no  particular  place  of  residence.' 

Q.     'Where's  your  pass?' 

A.     'I  have  got  none.' 

Q.     '  Where  was  you  born  ? ' 

A.     'North  America.' 

Q.  'Well,  to  America  }rou  shall  go  again.  Come 
go  along  with  me  to  the  guard  house.' 

Q.  'What  do  you  follow,  and  what  did  you  come 
after?' 

A.  'I  follow  preaching,  and  came  on  account  of 
my  health,  and  methodist  preachers  don't  apply  to 
magistrates  for  passes.' 

'Well.'  said  he,  upon  observing  I  could  not  walk 
fast,  my  feet  being  sore,  'if  ever  I  see  you  this  way 
way  again  I'll  send  you  to  prison.'  I  replied,  'you 
are  at  your  option  and  can  do  as  you  think  proper' ; 
then  he  put  whip  to  his  horse  and  wont  on." 

Lorenzo  was  always  witty  and  sometimes  a  little 
shrewd,  and  when  he  found  argument  would  not  pre- 
vail he  used  a  carnal  weapon.  In  the  following  case 
which  he  relates  in  his  journal,  the  weapon  used  was 
not  carnal  only,  but  also  scorching. 

I  was  once  in  conversation  with  a  learned  doctor, 
who  contended  there  was  nothing  real,  but  that  all 
things  were  the  force  of  imagination.  Mr.  Dow,  for 
a  time,  strove  to  convince  him  of  his  error  by  argu- 
ment, but  all  in  vain.  As  the  doctor  with  a  great 
deal  of  self  importance  laid  his  pipe  upon  the  table, 


REV.    LORENZO   DOW.  153 

and  turning  his  face  toward  the  window,  as  he  sat  in 
his  bi<»  armchair,  said,  "There,  Mr.  Dow,"  pointing 
to  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  "is  a  wagon  as  I 
imagine,  hut  it  is  all  the  force  of  imagination." — While 
he  was  thus  speaking,  and  before  he  could  utter  the 
the  rest  of  the  sentence,  Mr.  Dow  had  picked  up  the 
pipe,  which  contained  a  good  large  coal  of  tire,  and 
emptied  the  contents  into  the  doctor's  boot.  "What 

in  the  d 1"  (said  the  doctor,  as  he  precipitately 

turned  round,  and  seized  the  boot  with  both  hands) 
"are  you  about."  "Nothing  but  imagination,"  said 
Lorenzo  ;  "  Nothing  but  imagination  ! "  So  saying  he 
picked  up  his  stick,  and  leaving  the  doctor  to  con- 
template the  imaginary  influence  of  a  burned  skin  trav- 
eled on  to  the  place  of  his  next  appointment  and  the^e 
preached  from  the  doctor's  own  text. 

The  following  is  one  of  Lorenzo's  stories.  The 
celebrated  Doctor  Johnson,  from  whom  Mr.  Dow 
received  the  first  ideas  of  that  invaluable  chemical  dis- 
covery, the  Dow  Medicine,  tells  the  following  story, 
of  himself  and  friend  : 

"At  one  time  while  he  and  an  intimate  friend  were 
traveling  in  the  north  of  Scotland,  they  put  up  for  the 
night  at  a  very  indifferent  looking  house  in  the  high- 
lands. The  want  of  cleanliness  was  very  apparent, ' 
so  much  so  as  to  attract  the  attention  both  of  the  doc- 
tor and  of  his  friend,  and  to  make  them  curious  about 
what  they  were  to  have  fur  supper. 

"The  friend,  in  peeping  through  a  crack  in  the  par- 
tition, discovered  a  very  dirty-looking  boy  attending 


154  REV.    LORENZO   DOW. 

to  the  frying  of  some  beef  stoaks,  and  as  he  leaned 
ovor  to  turn  them,  noticed  him  scratching  his  he;id, 
and  some  of  the  unlucky  little  insects  falling  from  it 
into  the  pan.  This  of  course  spoiled  his  appetite  for 
steaks.  But  wishing  to  have  a  pull  on  the  doctor, 
said  nothing  of  his  discovery  till  after  supper.  In  the 
mean  time  their  meal  was  prepared,  consisting  of  fried 
steaks  and  boiled  pudding.  The  doctor  supposing  the 
fried  dish  the  cleanest  ate  steak.  The  friend  rejoicing 
in  the  rig  he  was  going  to  have  on  the  doctor,,  par- 
took sumptiously  of  the  pudding.  After  supper,  said 
the  doctor  addressing  his  friend  ;  "Well,  I  dont  envy 
you  your  dirty  pudding."  "Xor  I  you,  your  steaks," 
said  the  friend.  And  then,  giving  a  broad  laugh 
informed  the  doctor  of  the  boy  scratching  his  head 
over  the  frying  pan.  This  was  a  damper.  The  doc- 
tor, who  was  extremel  j  hard  to  head  off  now  felt  him- 
self fairly  beaten,  and  walking  out  of  doors,  soon  made 
a  summary  disposition  of  his  supper,  then  returning, 
sick  and  provoked,  he  called  up  the  boy,  and  address- 
ing him  in  a  very  angry  tone,  said,  "Why  did  you  not 
keep  that  cap  on  your  head,  you  had  on  when  I  came 
here  ?"  The  poor  boy,  scratching  his  head  and  burst- 
ing into  tears  at  the  angry  look  and  voice  of  the  doc- 
tor, replied,  "Why  mammy  took  it  to  boil  the  pud- 
ding in."  The  scene  now  changed.  The  friend  was 
taken  with  a  violent  heaving  at  the  stomach,  while  the 
doctor's  countenance  soon  changed  from  fro  wns  to  exces- 
sive mirth,  as  he  followed  his  friend  to  the  door,  con- 
gratulating him  upon  the  luxury  of  a  boiled  pudding.'' 


REV.  LORENZO  DOW.  155 

LORENZO  ON  MATRIMONY. 

"Various  are  the  opinions  with  regard  to  the  subject 
before  us. — Some  people  tell  us  it  is  not  lawful  for 
men  and  women  to  marry,  and  argue  thus  to  prove  it. 
'It  is  living  after  the  flesh;  they  that  live  after  the 
flesh  shall  die.  (by  which  is  meant  separation  from 
God)  therefore  they  who  live  together  as  husband  and 
wife  shall  die.'  Now  the  premises  being  wrong,  the 
conclusion  is  wrong  of  necessity  ;  for  living  together 
as  husband  and  wife  is  not  living  after  the  flesh,  but 
after  God's  ordinance,  as  is  evident  from  Matt,  xix, 
4,  5,  6, — 'And  he  answered,  and  said  unto  them, 
have  ye  not  read,  that  he  which  made  them  at  the 
beginning,  made  them  male  and  female,  and  said,  for 
this  cause  shall  a  man  leave  father  and  mother,  and 
shall  cleave  to  his  wife,  and  they  twain  shall  be  one 
flesh?  Wherefore  they  are  no  more  twain,  but  one 
flesh  !  What  therefore  God  hath  joined  together,  let 
no  man  put  asunder.'  Jn  these  words,  Christ,  our 
great  lawgiver  refers  to  Genesis  ii,  24,  which  at  once 
proves  that  the  Paradisical  instruction  is  not  abro- 
gated. From  the  beginning  of  the  world  until  the 
words  of  the  text  were  written,  people  lived  together 
as  husband  and  wife,  and  had  divine  approbation  in 
so  doing,  as  is  easily  proven  from  the  word  of  God. 
Some  people  have  an  idea  we  cannot  be  as  holy  in  a 
married  state  as  a  single  one.  But  hark  !  f  Enoch 
walked  with  God  after  he  begat  Methuselah,  three 
hundred  years,  and  begat  sons  and  daughters.'  Gen. 
v,  23,  Heb.  xi,  5.  Now  if  Enoch,  under  that  dark 


156  REV.    LORENZO    DOW. 

dispensation,  could  servo  God  in  a  married  state  and 
be  n't  for  translation  from  earth  to  heaven,  why  not 
another  person  he  equally  pious,  and  he  filled  with 
'righteousness  and  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost,' 
under  the  gospel  dispensation,  according  to  Rom.  xiv, 
17?  But  admitting  it  is  right  for  common  people  to 
marry,  is  it  right  for  the  clergy  to  marry?  Answer, 
I  know  that  too  many  think  it  is  not,  and  are  ready 
to  conclude  that  whenever  a  'preacher  marries  he  is 
backslidden  from  God,'  hence  the  many  arguments 
made  use  of  by  soms  t3  prevent  it.  When  I  hear 
persons  who  are  married  trying  to  dissuade  others 
from  marrying,  I  infer  one  of  two  things  :  that  they 
are  either  unhappy  in  their  marriage,  else  they  enjoy 
a  blessing  which  they  do  not  wish  others  to  partake 
of.  The  Church  of  Rome  have  an  idea  that  the  Pope 
is  St.  Peter's  successor,  and  that  the  clergy  ought  not 
to  marry.  But  I  would  ask  if  it  was  lawful  for  St. 
Peter  to  have  a  wife,  why  not  lawful  for  another 
priest  or  preacher  to  have  one.  But  have  we  any 
proof  that  Peter  had  a  wife?  In  Matt,  viii,  14,  we 
read  as  follows  :  f  And  when  Jesus  was  come  into 
Peter's  house,  he  saw  his  wife's  mother  laid,  and  sick 
of  a  fever.'  Now  how  could  Peter's  wife's  mother  be 
sick  of  a  fever,  provided  he  had  no  wife  ?  and  as  wo 
have  no  account  that  Christ  parted  Peter  and  his  wife, 
I  infer  that  he  lived  with  her  after  his  call  to  the 
apostleship,  according  to  Rom.  vii,  2,  for 'the  woman 
who  hath  an  husband  is  bound  by  the  law  to  her  hus- 
band so  long  as  he  liveth ' ;  now  if  Peter's  wife  was 


REV..  LORENZO   DOW.  157 

'bound'  to  him,  how  could  he  go  off  and  leave  her, 
as  some  people  think  he  did  !  The  words  of  the  text 
saith,  'marriage  is  honorable  in  all.'  But  how  could 
it  be  honorable  in  all  if  it  were  dishonorable  in  the 
priestly  order?  For  they  form  a  part ;  of  course  are 
included  in  the  word  A  double  L.  In  the  first  epistle 
written  by  St.  Paul  to  Timothy,  fourth  chapter,  we 
read  thus  :  '  Now  the  spirit  speaketh  expressly,  that 
in  the  latter  times  some  shall  depart  from  the  faith, 
giving  heed  to  seducing  spirits  and  doctrines  of  dev- 
ils ;  speaking  lies  in  hypocrisy ;  having  their  con- 
science seared  as  with  a  hot  iron  ;  forbidding  to  marry 
and  commanding  to  abstain  from  meats,  which  God 
hath  created  to  be  received  with  thanksgiving  of  them 
which  believe  and  know  the  truth.'  Observe,  for- 
bidding to  nifirry  is  a  doctrine  of  devils,  therefore  not 
of  divine  origin  ;  of  course  not  to  be  obeyed,  for  we 
are  under  no  obligations  to  obey  the  devils  ;  but,  in 
opposition  to  them  to  enjoy  all  the  benefits  of  divine 
institutions.  Marriage  is  a  divine  institution,  there- 
fore the  benefits  of  matrimony  may  be  enjoyed  by 
them  that  believe  and  know  the  truth." 

One  night  after  Mr.  Dow  had  retired  to  bed,  after 
a  hard  day's  travel,  in  the  western  part  of  Virginia,  a 
number  of  persons  collected  in  the  bar-room  to  enjoy 
their.usual  revelries,  as  was  the  custom  in  that  part 
of  the  country.  At  a  late  hour  in  the  night  the  alarm 
was  given  that  one  of  the  company  had  lost  his  pocket- 
book,  and  a  search  proposed  ;  whereupon  the  land- 
lord remarked  that  Lorenzo  Dow  was  iii  the  house , 


158  REV.   LOEENZO  DOW. 

and  that,  if  the  money  was  there,  he  knew  that  Lo- 
renzo could  find  it.  The  suggestion  was  instantly 
received  with  approbation,  and  accordingly  Mr.  Dow 
was  aroused  from  his  slumber,  and  brought  forth  to 
find  the  money.  As  he  entered  the  room  his  eyes  ran 
through  the  company  with  searching  inquiry  but  noth- 
ing appeared  that  could  fix  the  guilt  upon  anyone. 
The  loser  appeared  with  a  countenance  expressive  of 
great  concern,  and  besought  Mr.  Dow,  for  heaven's 
sake,  to  find  him  his  money.  "Have  any  left  the 
company  since  you  lost  your  money  ?  "  said  Mr.  Dow. 
"None,"  said  the  loser,  "none."  "Then,"  said  Lo- 
renzo, turning  to  the  landlady,  "go  and  bring  me  your 
large  dinner  pot."  This  created  no  little  surprise. 
But  as  supernatural  powers  were  universally  conceded , 
his  directions  were  unhesitatingly  obeyed.  Accord- 
ingly the  pot  was  brought  forward,  and  set  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  room.  "Now,"  said  Lorenzo,  "go  and 
bring  the  old  chicken  cock  from  the  roost."  This 
was  also  done  ;  and,  at  Lorenzo's  directions,  the  cock; 
placed  in  the  pot,  and  covered  over  with  a  board,  or 
lid.  "Let  the  doors  now  be  fastened  and  the  lights 
extinguished,"  said  Mr.  Dow,  which  was  also  done. 
"Now,"  said  he,  "every  person  in  the  room  must  rub 
his  hands  hard  against  the  pot,  and  when  the  guilty 
hand  touches  it,  the  cock  will  crow."  Accordingly 
all  came  forward  and  rubbed,  or  pretended  to  rub, 
against  the  pot ;  but  no  cock  crew.  "Let  the  candles 
now  be  lighted,"  said  Lorenzo,  "there  is  no  guilty 
person  here.  If  the  man  ever  had  any  money  he 


REV.    PHINEAS   STOWE.  159 

must  have  lost  it  someplace  else.  But  stop,"  said 
Lorenzo,  Avhen  all  things  were  prepared,  "let  us  now 
examine  the  hands."  This  was  the  most  important 
part  of  the  arrangement.  For,  on  examinat  on,  it 
was  found  that  one  man  had  not  rubbed  against  the 
pot.  The  other's  hands  being  black  with  the  soot  of 
the  pot,  was  a  proof  of  their  innocence.  "  There,"  said 
Lorenzo,  pointing  to  the  man  with  clean  hands,  "there 
is  the  man  who  picked  your  pocket."  The  culprit, 
seeing  his  detection,  at  once  acknowledged  his  guilt, 
and  gave  up  the  money. 

It  is  reported  that  when  Lorenzo  was  a  widower, 
one  day  after  he  had  preacln  d,  he  said  to  the  congre- 
gation, "I  am  a  candidate  for  matrimony  ;  and  if  there 
is  any  woman  in  this  audience  who  is  willing  to  marry 
me  I  would  thank  her  to  rise."  One  rose  very  near 
to  the  pulpit ;  another  in  a  more  distant  part  of  the 
house.  When  Lorenzo  said,  with  great  solemnity, 
"There  are  two,  I  think  this  one  near  me  rose  first; 
at  any  rate  I  will  have  her."  She  was  a  woman  of 
good  standing  and  possessed  of  considerable  property. 
They  were  married. 


REV.   PHINEAS   STOWE,   BAPTIST. 


REV.  PHINEAS  STOWE  was  born  in  Milford,  Conn., 
March  20,  1812.  When  fifteen  years  old  he  was 
engaged  as  a  clerk  in  New  Haven.  In  1831  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  first  baptist  church  in  that 


160  REV.    PHINEAS   STOWE. 

city.     lie  had  a  lovely  spirit,  great   sweetness    of 
voice,  was  a  sweet  singer  artd  ready  for  every  good 
work.     He  was  a  modest  and  unassuming  youth,  and 
left  a  lucrative   business  to  commence  a  course  of 
study  for  the  ministry.     He  marrit  d  Emily  Smith  of 
Southington,   Conn.,   while    contemplating    entering 
the  ministry.     He  spent  four  years  at  the  Newhamp- 
ton  Literary   mid  Theological    Institution  where  he 
made  many  friends  among  his  fellow  students  and  the 
professors  ;  the  late  Kev.  John  Brown  was  one  of  his 
tearhers ;     the    pupil    and    the    teacher    were  very 
congenial  spirits  ;  he  spent  two  years  as  past.ir  of  the 
baptist  church  in  South  Danvers.     From  Danvers  he 
came  to  Boston  and  became  pastor  of  the   Baptist 
bethel ;  he  was  well  adapted  to   this  work  ;  he  was 
enthusiastic  in  it,  and  it  filled  his  whole  soul.     lie 
originated  the  soldier's  home  and  mariner's  exchange 
and  their  library  and  reading  room.     He  was  much 
engaged  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  and  administered 
the  pledge  to  more  than  five  thousand,  to  all  of  whom 
he  gave  a  copy  of  the  new  Testament ;  the  sailor's  had 
good  reason  to  be  interested  in  him,   for  he   invited 
them  to  his  house,  asked  them  to  write  to  him  while 
at  sea,  keep  a  journal  and  let  him  see  it  on  their 
return.     He  also  manifested  great  interest  in  the  sol- 
dier's home.     He  often  visited  the   State  Prison  at 
Ch;irlestoAvn  and   was  always  welcomed   by  the  in- 
mates ;  many  of  the  prisoner's  were  greatly  benefit- 
ted  by  his  services.    Kev.  Henry  A.  Cook,  the  devo- 
ted and  energetic  successor  of  Mr.  Stowe  in  the  beth- 


REV.    PHINEAS   STOWE.  161 

el  work  in  this  city,  speaking  of  these  labors  in  the 
prison,  says:  "One  of  the  worst  convicts  at  Charles- 
town,  who  had  resisted  all  other  means,  was  subdued 
and  melted  under  Mr.  Stowe's  appeals,  and  is  now 
sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  "clothed,  and  in  his  right 
mind"  ;  most  characteristic  was  his  first  interview  with 
the  late  William  J.  Butler,  superintendent  of  the 
mariner's  exchange,  whose  history,  under  the  name 
of  the  "Rover  at  Rest,"  has  been  so  graphically  deline- 
ated by  Mrs.  Jane  D.  Chaplin.  Upon  this  wander- 
er, penniless  and  alone,  a  stranger  in  a  strange  city, 
and  surrounded  by  temptations  to  which  he  was  be- 
ginning to  yield,  the  eye  of  this  mariner's  shepherd 
lighted,  and  he  was  enfolded  by  him  as  in  a  mother's 
arms.  He  imitated  the  "Master"  in  preaching  the 
gospel  to  the  poor ;  he  rejoiced  in  this  work ;  he 
would  often  take  the  sailor's  to  the  prayer  meetings 
of  other  churches  ;  he  was  so  good  that  he  seemed  to 
make  everybody  else  good  around  him. 

Though  he  was  a  Baptist  and  strongly  attached  to 
that  denomination,  still  he  mingled  freely  and  la- 
bored much  among  other  denominations.  He  was 
always  welcome  on  all  occasions  wherever  he  went ; 
he  was  known  and  esteemed  throughout  the  Common- 
Avealth.  In  18fi2  he  was  chaplain  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Legislature  and  greatly  beloved  by  the  members  ; 
his  countenance  always  carried  sunshine  with  it ;  he 
was  never  more  happy  than  when  preaching  the  gospel. 

Mr.  Cook,  above  referred  to,  says:  "During  the 
last  year  of  his  life,  for  twenty-six  sabbaths  in  sue- 


162  EEV.    PHINEAS  STOWE. 

cession,  with  but  a  single  exception,  he  led  willing, 
rejoicing  converts  into  the  baptismal  waters ;  he 
wished  for  no  vacation,  finding  his  highest  pleasure 
in  his  work.  At  the  urgent  solicitation  of  his  friends, 
however,  he  went  away  from  Boston  a  few  weeks  in 
the  summer ;  but  he  was  soon  heard  of  among  the 
sailors  in  New  York  and  the  miners  of  Pennsylvania, 
praying  with  them,  and  preaching  to  them  the  word 
of  life  ;  and  he  thus  brought  on  the  unnatural  excite- 
ment which  resulted  in  his  premature  death."  It  has 
already  been  said  that,  Mr.  Stowe  was  interested  in 
soldiers  as  well  as  in  sailors.  The  following  is  proof 
of  this  :  The  writer  resided  in  Philadelphia  during 
the  late  war.  Soon  after  hostilities  commenced,  he 
called  together,  at  his  house,  eight  gentlemen,  all  of 
them  from  New  England  ;  they  organized  what  they 
called,  "The  Philadelphia  and  New  England  Sol- 
dier's Aid  Society" ;  the  object  of  which  was  to  aid 
the  soldiers  from  New  England  who  came  to  Philadel- 
phia. The  society  grew,  till  from  eight,  it  counted 
several  hundreds ;  it  was  aided  by  the  merchants  of 
Boston  and  other  parts  of  New  England  ;  it  dispensed 
many  thousands  of  dollars  to  needy  soldiers  ;  nor  did 
it  limit  its  aid  to  soldiers  from  Mew  England.  But, 
considering  our  country  as  a  unit,  it  assisted  soldiers 
from  other  states.  Rev.  Phineas  Stowe  visited  Phil- 
adelphia, attended  one  of  our  monthly  meetings,  saw 
the  good  work  we  were  engaged  in,  and  gave  us  his 
assistance.  On  his  return  to  Boston,  he  commended 
our  work  to  the  clergymen  and  citizens  of  Boston,  in 


REV.    ABRAHAM  D.    MERRILL.  163 

private,  and  through  the  press.  In  this  way  he  afford- 
ed us  very  substantial  aid.  I  mention  this  to  show 
that  wherever  there  was  an  opening  to  do  good,  to 
relieve  suffering,  to  succor  the  afflicted,  and  espouse 
a  good  cause,  his  hand  and  heart  were  ever  open. 

He  labored  in  every  good  word  and  work  for  more 
than  twenty  years  in  Boston  ;  and,  having  served  his 
generation  faithfully,  by  the  will  of  God  fell  asleep, 
rested  from  his  labors,  and  many  still  live  to  thank 
God  that  Phineas  Stowe  ever  lived. 


REV.  ABRAHAM  D.  MERRILL,  METHODIST. 


REV.  ABRAHAM  D.  MERRILL  was  born  in  Salem, 
N.  H.,  March  7,  1796.  His  parents  were  Major 
Joshua  and  Mehitable  Dow  Merrill.  He  had  as  good 
an  education  as  was  afforded  in  those  days  to  chil- 
dren of  the  most  respectable  classes.  His  young  life 
was  passed  with  his  parents  at  the  old  homestead 
farm,  which  had  long  been  in  the  family,  and  is  at  the 
present  time.  He  was  married  in  1816,  and  was 
settled  upon  a  farm  adjoining  the  homestead,  which 
was  given  him  by  his  father.  The  seriousness  of  his 
wife's  mind  had  some  effect  to  restrain  him  from  the 
habits  of  amusement  so  common  in  his  neighborhood  ; 
and  her  efforts  to  incite  him  to  religious  matters  were 
unceasing,  though  ^e  was  not  a  professor  of  religion 
at  that  time. 


164  REV.    ABRAHAM   D.    MERRILL. 

In  1820  his  mind  was  much  disposed  to  dwell  upon 
religious  subjects  ;  and  there  being  at  that  time  a 
powerful  revival  of  religion  in  the  northerly  part  of 
the  town,  some  three  miles  from  his  residence,  he  was 
much  interested  in  the  meetings,  and  at  one  of  them 
became  conscious  of  God's  approval.  He  immedi- 
ately began  to  speak  in  these  meetings,  stating  the 
wonderful  work  that  God  had  wrought  in  his  heart. 
So  great  was  the  change,  he  desired  that  all  his  rel- 
atives and  friends  should  know  of  it.  He  first  vis- 
ited his  father  and  mother,  and  told  them  of  the  glo- 
rious change  he  had  experienced,  and  exhorted  them 
to  become  partakers  with  him  of  the  same  grace.  He 
then  took  his  horse,  .and  rode  from  ten  to  twenty 
miles,  publishing  to  all,  as  he  went,  what  God  had 
done  for  him. 

This  was  the  19th  of  November,  1820.  For  many 
months  after  this  his  mind  was  exercised  in  regard  to 
his  duty,  he  being  impressed  that  he  ought' to  preach 
the  gospel.  In  almost  a  miraculous  manner  he  was 
convinced  of  his  duty  to  preach  ;  and  he  concluded  to 
avail  himself  of  every  facility  to  improve  his  mind, 
and  to  make  arrangements  to  prosecute  Biblical  study. 
He  was  not  long  allowed  to  rest  from  public  religious 
services,  and  was  finally  obliged  to  abandon  consecu- 

*-  o 

tive  study,  for  he  was  invited  and  urged  to  preach 
not  only  in  the  neighborhood,  but  in  the  school 
houses  of  the  town,  and  also  in  other  towns  of  the 
county. 

His    name   was   presented  to    the   New-England 


REV.    ABRAHAM  D.    MERRILL.  •         165 

Annual  Conference  at  its  session  held  in  Bath,  Me., 
1822,  by  which  he  was  received  on  trial,  and  appointed 
to  Landiff  circuit,  X.  II.  and  then  for  fortv  years, 
with  scarcely  an  interruption.  IK?  served  the  Clairch 
in  the  following  fields  of  labor:  Unity,  Vt.,  1823; 
WethersnYld,  Vt.,  1824  ;  Barnard,  Vt.,  1825  ;  Barre, 
Vt.,  1826;  Needham,  1827;  Duxbury,  1828  ;  Lynn 
Common,  1829-1830 ;  N.  Boston,  1831 ;  Needhnm 
and  Weston,  1832;  Lowell,  1833-34;  Springfield, 
1835-36  ;  Andover  and  North  Reading,  1837  ;  Mar- 
blehead,  1838 ;  West  Providence,  K.  I.  1839-40 ; 
Webster,  1841-42;  Lowell,  Worthen  Street,  1843- 
44 ;  Springfield,  Wesley  Chapel,  1845 ;  Boston, 
Church  Street,  1846-1847  ;  Lynn,  Wood  End,  1848  ; 
Cambridge,  Harvard  Street,  1849-50 ;  Medford, 
1851-52  ;  Salem,  1853  ;  Lynn,  Maple  Street,  1854- 
55  ;  East  Cambridge,  1856  ;  superannuated,  1857  ; 
Chelsea,  Mount  Bellingham,  1858;  superannuated, 
1859  ;  Melrose,  1860  ;  Topsfield,  1861-62  ;  superan- 
nuated, 1863  ;  supernumerary,  1864  ;  superannuated, 
1865-78. 

About  the  1st  of  April,  1878,  he  was  attacked 
with  pneumonia.  His  po \venul  vitality  resisted  the 
disease,  and  in  a  little  over  a  week  he  was  convale- 
scent. The  disease  left  him  feelile  in  body,  but  peace- 
ful and  berene  in  mind.  He  said  to  one  of  his  sons, 
"I  would  not  turn  my  hand  to  live  or  die  ;  I  submit 
to  Gi>d's  will."  From  some  accidental  exposure  ho 
suffered  a  relapse  of  the  disease,  and  it  became  a 
of  serious  doubt  as  to  its  termuiatiou.  A  few 


REV.   ABRAHAM  D.   M*ERRtLL. 

days  sufficed  to  convince  his  wife  and  children  that  he 
could  not  recover.  He  had  possession  of  his  senses 
till  within  a  few  hours  of  his  decease.  The  physi- 
cian who  had  so  faithfully  attended  him  was  sum- 
moned to  his  bedside,  and.  in  the  presence  of  his 
family,  told  him  he  could  not  live  but  a  few  hours. 
He  reached  out  his  hand,  and,  taking  that  of  the  phy- 
sician, said  to  him,  "Doctor,  I  am  satisfied  with  your 
administration  of  my  case  :  I  die  at  peace  with  God 
and  all  mankind."  At  nine  o'clock  of  the  night  of 
the  29th  of  April  he  passed  away. 

The  above  is  the  obituary  notice  of  the  Rev.  Abra- 
ham Merrill  by  the  New  England  Conference  at  their 
next  meeting  after  his  decease,  held  in  Worcester, 
M*ss.,  April  2,  1879. 

Mr.  Merrill  was  properly  called  one  of  the  Fathers 
of  Methodism  in  New  England.  Though  he  had  not 
a  collegiate  education  or  a  theological  one  as  is  cus- 
tomary at  the  present  time ;  yet  his  advantages  for 
study  compared  favorably  with  those  of  his  age.  He 
was  industrious  and  improved  well  all  the  advantages 
which  he  had.  He  was  a  worthy  and  faithful  minis- 
ter in  the  "  Master's"  cause.  He  was  highly  esteemed 
by  his  brethren  in  the  ministry.  His  life  was  a  use- 
ful one  ;  and  he  served  his  generation  faithfully.  He  left 
several  sons ;  who  are  useful,  intelligent,  and  active 
members  of  society,  and  ornaments  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 


REV.    DAXIEL   LEACH,    D.  D.  l6? 

REV.  DANIEL  LEACH,  D.D.,  EPISCOPALIAN. 


REV.  DANIEL  LEACH  was  born  June  12,  1806,  in 
Bridgewater,  Mass.  He  entered  Brown  University 
in  1825  ;  but  on  account  of  ill  health  did  not  receive 
his  degree  till  1830.  He  was  ordained  in  the  Epis- 
copal church  in  Feb.  1833.  He  received  the  hono- 
rary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Brown  Uni- 
versity in  1835.  Two  years  afterwards  he  was  elected 
trustee  of  the  university  for  life. 

He  was  associated  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sears  as  an 
agent  for  the  Board  of  Education  of  Massachusetts. 
He  has  been  superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of 
Rhode  Island  for  the  last  twenty-five  years. 

Mr.  Leach  was  in  Brown  University  with  me.  I 
knew  him  well  as  a  steady,  industrious  and  studious 
young  man,  deserving  the  courtesy  and  friendship  of 
his  fellow  students,  and  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
the  Faculty.  Though  he  was  in  feeble  health,  yet  he 
maintained  a  good  standing  in  his  class,  and  excelled 
in  some  branches,  especially  in  Mathematics. 

He  was  rector  of  Christ's  church  inQuincy,  Mass., 
while  I  was  pastor  of  a  Congregational  church  in  that 
town.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  sound  in  faith,  and  as 
a  rector,  esteemed  and  highly  respected.  After  he 
left  the  rectorship,  he  engaged  in  teaching  and  had 
for  some  years  a  private  family  school  in  Dorchester 
and  was  very  successful. 

The  long  period  which  Dr.  Leach  has  been  the 


168  REV.    DANIEL  LEACH,    D.  D. 

superintendent  of  the  schools  of  Providence,  nnd  the 
success  which  has  followed  speak  well  for  his  capacity 
and  wisdom  displayed  in  their  management.  There 
is  now  lying  before  me  a  city  document,  of  1878, 
entitled,  "A  brief  .-ketch  of  the  High  school  of  Provi- 
dence." which  contains  an  excellent  address  by  him 
on  the  occasion  of  the  dedication  of  that  edifice  ;  from 
which  we  quote  the  following  : — "  Were  not  man  a 
spiritual  being,  and  of  a  nobler  nature  than  a  mate- 
rial organism,  soon  to  return  to  its  o-iginal  elements  ; 
had  he  no  other  aim  or  purpose  in  life  but  to  provide 
for  his  phy.-ical  wants,  to  seek  the  gratifications  of 
sense,  to  be  comfortably  fed  and  clothed ;  such  an 
institution  as  this  might  be  deemed  unwise  and 
unnecessary.  But  if  there  be  an  inner  life  with 
unlimited  powers  and  faculties  to  be  developed  ;  if  the 
continued  advancement  in  social  well-being  and  civi- 
lization be  the  fundamental  law  of  human  existence, 
then  all  the  agencies  and  means  that  can  wisely  be 
employed  to  advance  and  secure  this  noble  object  are 
worthy  of  the  highest  consideration. 

"The  field  of  knowledge  that  is  here  to  be  opened, 
in  part,  to  our  youth,  is  vast  and  illimitable,  extend- 
ing far  beyond  the  sublimest  reach  of  thought. 

"It  is  here  that  the  accumulated  wisdom  of  the  past, 
the  great  thoughts  of  great  minds  in  every  age,  the 
proton ndest  researches  of  science  from  the  earliest 
dawn  of  truth  to  her  more  wonderful  discoveries  of  the 
present  are  briefly  to  be  presented  in  all  their  attrac- 
tive power. 


EEV.    DANIEL  LEACH,    D.  D.  169 

"One  of  the  most  prominent  defects  in  teaching,  in 
all  our  schools,  is  the  crowding  the  youthful  mind 
beyond  its  capacity  to  thoroughly  comprehend.  The 
first,  as  well  as  the  highest  aim  of  education, 
should  ever  be  to  develope  in  harmony  and  to 
strengthen  all  the  powers  and  faculties,  both  of  mind 
and  body,  by  judicious  training;  beginning  with  the 
simplest  elements  of  thought,  to  lead  the  pupil  on, 
step  by  step,  to  think  clearly,  to  reason  correctly  and 
to  classify  all  the  materials  of  knowledge  according 
to  their  true  relations." 

This  whole  address  is  characterized  by  sterling  com- 
mon sense  educational  wisdom  and  true  philosophy 
all  of  which  superintendent  Leach  possesses. 

Dr.  Leach's  arithmetic  is  in  some  respects  superior 
to  any  other  with  which  we  have  been  acquainted. 


CHAPTEE  VIII. 


REV.    SAMUEL    TOBEY,     CONGREGATION- 
AL1ST. 


THE  town  of  Berkeley  was  incorporated  in  1735. 
It  was  taken  from  Taunton  and  Dighton.  It  was 
named  after  Bishop  Berkeley  then  in  Newport,  R.  I. 
The  Bishop  sent  them  an  organ  from  England,  as  a 
present  for  calling  the  town  after  his  name.  But  the 
town  was  so  puritanical  that  they  would  not  touch  the 
"unclean  thing,"  and  refused  to  pay  freight  upon  it. 
After  it  had  remained  housed  for  some  years  the  first 
Episcopal  ehurch  of  Newport,  R.I.,  paid  the  expense 
of  its  transportation,  and  placed  it  in  their  church, 
where  it  gives  forth  sAveet  tones  every  sabbath  until 
the  present  time.  What  exhibits  a  remarkable  change 
of  feeling,  the  church  of  Berkeley  has  since  purchased 
an  organ,  and  n<»w  listen  to  its  music  every  sabbath  day. 

A  Congregational  church  was  organized  in  this 
town  November  2,  1737.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
Samuel  Tobey,  C'ongregationalist.  He  was  ordained 
in  1737.  the  same  month  the  church  was  organized. 
Hi-  ministry  extended  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  suddenly  Febuary  13,  1781,  including  nearly 
n  period  of  forty-four  years. 

The  book  of  records,  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr. 
Tobey.  contains  the  following  entries  concerning  the. 
call  ami  settlement  of  the  fii>t  minister  of  Berkeley, 


REV.    SAMUEL   TOBEY.  171 

* 

"January  ye  1,  1736,  I  was  invited  to  preach  at 
Berkeley,  and  accordingly  came.  August  ye  1,  1736, 
the  people  of  Berkeley  gave  me  a  call  to  settle  among 
them,  in  the  work  of  ye  ministry,  offering  me  two 
hundred  pounds  for  my  settlement,  and  one  hundred 
for  my  salary.  September  ye  1,  ensuing  I  met  with 
ye  town,  and  by  their  adding  to  their  first  offer  ye 
contribution  money  which  should  be  conntributed 
every  Sabbath,  and  stating  my  salary  at  silver  twenty- 
six  shillings  per  ounce,  I  accepted  ye  call.  Novem- 
ber ye  23,  1737, 1  was  ordained  pastor  over  the  church 
and  congregation." 

In  the  Church  Record  book,  which  appears  to  have 
been  kept  with  great  fidelity  by  Mr.  Tobey,  and 
unlike  those  of  many  other  churches,  has  fortunately 
escaped  ihe  ravages  of  time,  are  to  be  found  interest- 
ing matters  personal :  "September  ye  H.  1738,  I  was 
married  to  IJethsheba  Crocker.  October  ye  31,  I 
moved  into  my  house.  Will  God  speak  well  of  ye 
house  of  His  servants  for  a  great  while  to  come,  and 
'as  for  me  and  my  household,  \ve  will  serve  ye  Lord.' 
Celia  our  first  child  born  August  ye  29,  1739,  on 
Wednesday,  between  one  a-nd  two  at  night.  Samuel 
our  second  child,  born  August  ye  11,  1841,  on  Tues- 
day about  sunset.  May  ye  28,  1743,  my  dear  child 
Samuel  died,  on  Saturday,  a  little  after  sunrising. 
Oh  that  his  death  might  be  sanctified  unto  us,  his 
p-irents.  for  our  spiritual  g;x>d.  June  ye-o,  1743,  our 
third  child  was  born,  on  ye  first  diy  of  ye  week,  early 
in  ye  morning,  aad  was  baptized  tiio  aanie  day  by  the 


172  REV.   SAMUEL  TOEEY. 

name  of  Samuel.  September  ye  25,  1745,  our  fourth 
child  was  born  on  Wednesday  about  eight  of  ye  clock 
in  ye  morning  ;  called  Timothy.  Nathaniel,  our  fitfh 
child  born  August  ye  17,  1747,  on  Monday  morning 
about  three  ye  clock.  Isaac,  our  sixth  child,  born 
July  ye  20,  1749,  on  Thursday,  between  seven  and 
eight  at  night.  Enoch,  our  seventh  child,  born  Sept- 
ember ye  2,  1751,  on  Monday  evening,  between  eight 
and  n;ne  of  ye  clock.  Aletheia,  our  eighth  child 
born  March  ye  3,  1754,  on  ye  Sabbath,  about  five  of 
ye  clock,  P.  M.  September  ye  9,  1756,  my  ninth 
child,  born  on  Thursday  at  about  four  of  ye  clock  in 
ye  afternoon,  called  Bathsheba.  February  ye  4, 
1759,  my  tenth  child  was  born  about  five  of  ye  clock 
on  Sabbath  morning;  called  Abigail :  Died  Novem- 
ber 29,  1778.  September  ye  6,  17(>1,  my  wife  was 
delivered  of  t\vo  sons  ;  ye  first  was  born  about  nine 
of  ye  clock,  Sabbath  day  night,  the  second  about  ten 
of  ye  clock,  viz.,  Paul  and  Silas.  November  29, 
17  ~<8,  Nabby  died  in  ye  twentieth  year  of  her  age." 

Had  every  parent  been  as  particular  in  describing 
the  time  when  his  children  were  born,  as  was  Jiev. 
Mr.  Tobey  it  would  have  spoiled  the  business  of  an 
old  astrologer,  Lester,  who  practised  the  black  art  in 
Boston  many  years ;  and  who  recently  died  in  the 
city  of  New  York.  He  was  accustomed  to  ask  earh 
simpleton  who  came  to  him  to  have  his  fortune  told  ; 
what  year  he  was  born,  what  month,  what  day  of  the 
month,  what  day»of  the  wesk,  and  what  hour  of, the 
iluy  Jie  ww  Jjuru.  uJuaL  h@&£e  JAU  ulkil  Jiu  *9totod  to 


RE57    SAMUEL  TOBESS 

those  around  him  that  if  he  made  a  mistake  he  gener- 
ally had  a  place  to  creep  out  at,  for  not  one  in  a  hun- 
dred could  tell  the  hour  of  his  birth. 

Rev.  Mr.  Tobey's  family  became  one  of  the  most 
prominent  in  the  town.  Samuel  became  one  of  the 
most  eminent  and  influential  citizens  of  Berkeley. 
His  youngest  son  named  Silas  graduated  at  Brown 
University  and  became  master  of  a  vessel,  and  died  of 
yellow  fever  at  Point  Petre,  Guadaloupe,  February  1, 
1817,  aged  thirty  years.  Seldom  does  sociey  receive 
a  deeper  wound,  and  the  social  and  domestic  circle  a 
more  distressing  loss  than  was  inflicted  by  the  un- 
timely fate  of  this  man.  His  only  son,  who  was  born 
after  his  father's  decease,  is  now  the  honored  citizen 
and  worthy  postmaster  of  Boston. 

Rev.  Mr.  Tobey  used  to  relate  the  following  cir- 
cumstance respecting  his  visits  at  Mr.  Crocker's  pre- 
vious to  his  marriage.  Mr.  Crocker  had  four  daugh- 
ters. He  had  be*ni  in  the  habit  of  calling  on  the  fam- 
ily. Three  of  the  daughters  were  usually  in  the  i-oom 
to  receive  him  :  the  fourth  one  he  seldom  saw.  Occca- 
sionally  he  would  get  a  glimpse  of  her  dress  as  she 
disappeared  through  the  door.  His  curiosity  was 
excited  to  see  more  of  this  "coy  bird,"  as  he  used  to 
express  it.  He  therefore  determined  to  have  an  inter- 
view with  her  ;  the  result  of  which  was  a  proposal  to 
marry  her.  He  used  to  say,  "I  do  not  know  as  this 
would  have  taken  place  had  she  not  been  so  shy,"  a 
beautiful  tribute  to  feminine  modesty,  a  little  more  of 
which  would  not  be  amiss  in  our  modern  times. 


174  REV.    SAMUEL   TOBEY. 

The  following  .anecdotes  respecting  Mr.  Tobey  are 
related.  "  When  a  boy  he  was  in  the  habit  of  driving 
his  father's  cows  to  pasture.  One  Sabbath  morning  he 
discovered  a  flock  of  wild  geese  in  a  pond  where  they 
had  spent  the  night.  Hiving  a  heavy  stick  in  his  hand, 
he  threw  it  into  the  midst  of  them,  as  they  rose  to  fly  ; 
two  of  them  remained  with  their  necks  broken  by 
the  blow.  He  took  them  from  the  water  and  left 
them — went  home  and  rested  on  the  Sabbath,  accord- 
ing to  the  commandment.  The  next  morning  he  went 
to  take  them  home  but  found  them  unfit  for  use.  Ho 
then  told  the  family  of  his  success  the  morning  before 
and  of  his  disapointment  in  not  providing  thorn  with 
a  dinner.  They  inquired  why  he  did  not  bring  them 
home  when  he  killed  them  ?  1  Ic  replied  that  "he  wag 
afraid  of  asevere  punishment  for  breakingthe  Sabbath." 
This  shows  that  he  must  have  been  religiously  educated. 
Fe\v  boys  would  fear  punishment  in  these  modern  times 
for  carrying  h<  >me  wild  geese  on  the  Sabbath,  and  some 
would  not  even  get  rebuked  if  they  stole  them. 

We  have  the  following  anecdote  also,  which  shows 
that  like  oth-r  clergymen  of  his  day,  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  cultivate  the  ground — an  employment  which 
doubtless  contributed  much  to  tln-ir  health,  longevity 
and  the  length  of  their  pastorates,  and  also,  that  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  rebuking  profanity.  At  one  time 
his  neighbors  were  assisting  him  in  breaking  a  rough 
piece  of  ground.  They  had  a  strong  team,  and  a 
man  thoy  called  Sargent  Harvey  to  hold  the  plow. 
He  had  two  bad  habits,  he  would  drink  too  much 


REV.    THOMAS   ANDROS.  175 

strong  liquor,  and  use  profane  language.  He  was 
now  under  the  influence  of  the  former  which  provoked 
the  latter.  When  the  plow  therefore  struck  a  stone 
or  root,  and  sent  him  one  side,  he  would  swear.  Mr. 
Tobey  tried  to  check  him,  which  would  have  its  effect 
for  a  time,  but  he  would  forget  and  swear  again. 
At  last  he  told  him  that  he  could  hold  that  plow 
around  the  field  without  using  such  language.  Sarg- 
ent Harvey  gave  the  plow  into  his  hands  and  followed 
to  le«trn  the  result.  The  plow  was  no  respecter  of 
persons,  but  served  Mr.  Tobey  as  it  did  Sargent  Har- 
vey. But  his  expression  was  "I  never  see  the  like." 

When  the  task  was  performed  he  said"thore  I  have 
been  the  whole  round  and  have  not  made  use  of  the 
language  you  did."  "True,"  he  replied,  "but  which 
is  the  greater  sin,  to  swear,  or  lie  as  you  did  a  number 
of  times.  For  you  said  you  never  see  the  like  when 
you  know  you  have  a  great  many  times." 

Mr.  Tobey  had  the  reputation  for  being  a  very  mod- 
est man,  and  it  is  not  known  that  he  ever  furnished 
any  sermons  or  other  articles  for  the  press. 


KEV.    THOMAS    ANDROS,    COXGREGA- 
TIONALIST. 

THE    SECOND   MINISTER   OF   BERKELEY. 


MR.  ANDROS  was  a  native  of  Norwich,  Ct.  He  was 
born  May  1,  1759,  and  died  December  30,  1845,  aged 
eighty-six  years  and  eight  months.  He  lost  his  father 
when  a  child  and  was  left  in  indigent  circumstances. 


176  REV.    THOMAS  ANDRCJS. 

He  was  tire  clergyman  under  whose  ministry  the 
early  years  of  the  writer  were  spent. 

At  an  early  age,  upon  the  commencement  of  the 
revolutionary  war,  he  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  the 
American  army.  He  joined  the  army  during  the  seige 
of  Boston,  and  when  that  town  was  evacuated  he  went 
with  the  army  to  Long  Island.  He  was  in  both  the 
battles  of  Long  Island  and  White  Plains.  In  1781 
he  enlisted  in  the  sea-service,  was  taken  prisoner  and 
confined  in  the  "Old  Jersey  Prison  Ship."  Our  read- 
ers may  recollect  a  sabbath  school  book,  entitled  the 
"Old  Jersey  Captive."  It  is  an  account  of  his  con- 
finement, sufferings  and  escape  from  that  ship.  His 
sufferings  were  extreme,  and  we  have  often  heard  him 
relate  the  horrid  incidents  which  there  transpired,  and 
they  fully  demonstrate  that  suffering  does  not  make 
wicked  men  better.  After  his  return  from  this  ship, 
he  found  his  health  much  impaired,  and  soon  com- 
menced studying  for  the  gospel  ministry.  He  had 
not  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education,  but  the 
sequel  will  show  that  he  had  a  strong  and  vigorous 
mind,  which  was  diligently  employed.  Soon  after 
he  was  licensed  to  preach,  he  was  invite<l  to  take 
charge  of  the  congregational  church  in  Berkeley, 
Mass.  That  society  had  never  had  but  one  minister, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Tobey.  Mr.  A.  was  ordained,  March 
19^1788,  and  sustained  the -pastoral  relation  forty-six 
years,  and  then  resigned  his  charge.  Ho  had  two 
wives*  and'  survived  them  both.  He  was  the  father 
of  seventeen  children  ;  thirteen  of  whom  survived  him. 


THOMAS  ANDRTJS;  177 

His  salary  war  always  small,  though  his  labors  were 
most  abundant.     He  had,  for  many  years,   an   un- 
boundrd  influence  among  his  people.  No  one  thought 
of  doubting  the  correctness  of  his  views,  or  the  sound- 
ness of  his  judgment  on  any  subject.     His  word  was 
law.     His  presence  awed  all  the  people,  and  every 
chill  did  obeisance  to  him.     How  different  is  it  now. 
Though  his  body  was  shattered,   being  subject  to 
nervous  diseases,  yet  his  mind  was  vigorous.     His 
memory  was  tenacious.     Whatever  subject  he  grap- 
pled with,  and  mastered,  he  held  with  a  tremendous 
grasp.     Never  did  he  relinquish  what  he  believed  to 
be  true,  either  in  science  or  religion.     We  have  now 
in  full  recollection  a  little  incident  which  transpired 
in  reference  to  ourself.  When  we  were  young,  it  was 
the  custom  for  the  minister  to  be  the  school  commit- 
tee, and  to  examine  and  recommend  teachers.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen,  we  went  to  Mr.  A.  for  such  a  recom- 
mendation.    In  the  course  of  the  conversation,  some- 
thing was  said  about  tare  and  trett,  and  neat  weight. 
Mr.  A.  said  it  was  net.     We,  incidentally,  remarked 
that  it  was  spelt  neat.     "O  no,   tisn't,"  said  Mr.  A. 
Here  ,  we  should  have  left  the  matter,  had  not  Mr. 
A.  undertook  to  show  that  he  was  correct  by  a  resort 
to  books.     The  first  one,  into   which  he  looked,,  was 
Perry's  dictionary;   "well,"  said  he,  "it  is  neat  here, 
but  Perry  was  never  a  standard."    He  next  consulted 
the  small  dictionary  published  several  years  since,  by 
Noah  Webster,  "Well,"  said  he,  "it  is  neat  here,  but 
it  isn't  so  in  the  Arithmetic,     He  then  consulted  Da- 


178  REV.    THOMAS   AXDROS. 

bol's  Arithmetic.  "Well,  it  is  the  same  here,"  said 
he,  "but  Dabol  was  not  a  "man  of  letters,  though  a 
good  arithmetician.  I  know  it  is  not  so  in  Pike." 
He  next  examined  Pike's  large  Arithmetic.  "Well," 
said  he,  "it  i*  just  the  same  here ;  but  I  don't  care, 
I  know  it  isn't  right." 

We  mention  this  circumstance  because  it  is  charac- 
teristic of  the  man.  He  would  never  yield  a  point, 
when  he  knew  he  wa^  right ;  and  he  was  in  the  right 
in  the  above  case,  though  all  the  books  that  he  con- 
sulted were  against  him.  Had  he  consulted  Dilworth's 
Spelling  Book,  or  an  older  arithmetic, — those  which, 
he  studied  when  a  boy,  —  he  would  have  found  the 
word  spelled  as  he  said  it  was,  and  as  he  had  been 
accustomed  to  see  it  when  it  made  the  deepest  and 
most  abiding  impression  on  his  mind. 

In  religious  sentiment  he  was  evangelical  or  Cal- 
vanistic,  but  not  what  was  called  Hopkinsian.  He 
was  in  full  belief  of  the  Westminster  Catechism.  All 
the  children  of  the  parish  were  brought  up  on  the  cat- 
echism. Saying  the  catechism  was  the  bounden  duty 
of  every  child.  We  studied  it  in  the  public  schools 
and  met  for  the  purpo>e  of  saying  it  to  Mr.  Andros 
every  Saturday  afternoon.  As  there  was  but  one 
parish  in  the  town  nearly  all  the  children  learned  to 
repeat  it  from  the  beginning  to  its  close.  The  cate- 
chism was  also  repeated  in  nearly  every  family  after 
the  service  in  the  sanctuary  every  Sabbath  afternoon. 
Thus  from  our  earliest  years  we  were  all  instructed 
in  sound  doctrine.  This  served  as  a  wall  around  the 


REV.    THOMAS   ANDROS.  179 

parish  to  keep  the  people  together,  and  to  preserve 
them  from  being  led  astray  by  itinerating  sectarians 
who  sometimes  ventured  into  the  corners  of  the  town. 
He  was  as  sound  in  morals  as  in  orthodoxy. 

In  the  pulpit  he  "kept  back  nothing  which  he  con- 
sidered profitable  to  his  people."  As  he  never  fed  his 
flock  with  hemlock  and  laurel,  but  with  the  "sincere 
milk  of  the  word,"  so  he,  also,  brought  "beaten  oil" 
into  the  sanctuary.  Seldom  did  he  preach  an  old  ser- 
mon ;  though  in  the  latter  part  of  his  pastoral  rela- 
tionship we  recollect  once  saying  to  him,  that  one  of 
his  people  said  "he  preached  a  pointed  sermon,"  mean- 
ing one  personally  offensive.  The  old  gentleman  re- 
plied, "it  was  written  precisely  as  delivered  before 
that  man  was  born."  If  it  were  not  for  digressing  in 
this  notice,  which  will  be  sufficiently  long  for  our  lim- 
its without,  we  should  like  to  relate  a  few  anecdotes 
about  pointed  sermons  ;  but  sufficient  to  say,  a  sermon 
without  a  point  is  worthless. 

In  a  sketch  of  Mr.  Andros'  life,  furnished  by  his 
son,  Richard  S.  Storrs  Andros  to  Rev.  Mr.  Emery, 
in  his  "Ministry  of  Taunton  and  Vicinity,"  I  find  the 
following  remark  :  "At  the  date  of  Mr.  Andros'  set- 
tlement in  Berkeley,  but  a  single  school  existed  within 
the  limits  of  the  town." 

This  statement  is  undoubtedly  true  ;  but  needs  ex- 
planation. While  there  was  but  one  school  in  the 
town,  education  was  still  in  advance  of  what  it  was  in 
the  neighboring  towns,  and  for  this  reason  :  soon  after 
the  town  was  incorporated  they  §et$ec[  upon  an  Eng- 


REV.    THOMAS   ANDROS. 

lishman  by  the  name  of  Robmd  Gavan,  as  schoolmas- 
ter, the  salary  of  sixteen  pounds  a  y<  ar  durin<r  his 
natural  life.  Mr.  Gavan  was  competent  to  teach  and 
did  teach  the  English  branches,  together  with  navi- 
gation, surveying,  etc.  In  the  days  of  our  boyhood, 
our  grandfather,  Capt.  Thomas  Briggs,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  ninety-seven  years,  had  been  one  of  Mr. 
Gavan's  pupils.  We  also  remember  sever.-d  others 
who  had  attended  his  school.  They  spoke  of  it  as  an 
excellent  one  ;  indeed,  surpassing  any  one  in  the  coun- 
try. For  forty  years  this  school  was  continued.  Late 
in  life,  Mr.  Gavan  married  a  widow,  possessed  of 
some  landed  property.  Ili.s  habits  became  somewhat 
unsteady  and  she  complained. that  he  did  not  treat  her 
with. that  affection  he  did  before  their  marriage,  for 
then,  he  said  "he  loved  the  very  ground  on  which  she 
walked."  To  which  he  replied,  "the  Old  Nick  might 
have  hud  her,  if  it  had  not  been  for  her  ground."  She 
also  complained  that  he  stayed  out  late  at  night"  ;  to 
thisj  he  replied,  "he  always  came  home  between  nine 
and  ten,"  he  having  placed  a  figure  nine  on  one  side 
of.  the  door  and  ten  on  the  other.  He  was  esteemed 
a  very  learned  man,  and  many  wondered  that, "one 
small  head  could  carry  all  he  knew." 

As  we  remember  the  church  andi  society  in  Berke- 
ley, in  our  boyhood,  we  knew  no  other  minister  but 
Father  Andros.  The  congregation  would  compare 
favorably  with  those  of  other  parishes,  there  being 
but  one  society  in  the  town.  The  only  officers  of  the 
church  were  deacons  George  Sanford  'U1d  Tisdale 


KEY.    THOMAS    ANDROS1.  181 

They  were  better  read  in  theology  than  one 
half  of  the  ministers  of  modern  times.  The  former 
kept  a  country  tavern  and  sold  rum,  and  nol>ody 
thought  the  worse  of  him  for  doing  it,  as  the  temper- 
ance movement  was  then  unknown 

Deacon  Briggs  was  one  of  the  most  gifted  men  in 
prayer  we  have  ever  known.  Judge  Tohey  was  the 
most  prominent  man  in  the  town,  of  irreproachable 
character,  and  unimpeachable  integrity. 

A  poor  man  by  the  name  of  Ralph  Phillips,  was 
butchering  at  our  grandfathers  one  day  when  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Andros  called.  On  seeing  him,  Mr.  Andros  said, 
"Oh,  Mr.  Phillips,  I  am  glad  to  see  you  ;  I  havn't 
seen  }rou  at  church  for  some  time."  ".No,"  said  Phil- 
lips, "I  go  to  see  no  man  that  wont  come  to  see  me. 
I  went  to  meeting  a  whole  year  and  you  never  came 
to  see  me  once."  "You  must  consider,  Mr.  Phillips, 
that  1  have  a  great  many  places  to  go  to."  Phillips 
replied,  "Yes,  1  used  to  see  you  at  Judge  Tobey's 
every  week."  A  good  admonition  to  many  clergymen. 

Mr.  Andros  was  a  zealous  federalist,  and,  conse- 
quently, had  but  little  charity  fot  republicans  or  "ja- 
cobins" of  that  day,  as  they  were  called  by  the  fed- 
eralists. Political  lying  was  never  carried  to  greater 
perfection  than  it  was  at  that  (Jay  between  the  feder- 
alists and  republicans.  The  former  were  in  league 
with  England,  the  latter  with  France ;  and  "Father 
Andros"  prophesied  that  "Nap«-lean  I  would  conquer 
all  the  eastern  world,  and  then  set  his  blood-stained 
foot  upon  the  neck  of  America";  but.  as  his  proph^ 


182  REV.    THOMAS   ANDROS. 

ecy  was  not  fulfilled,  we  have  since  had  but  little  faith 
in  modern  prophets. 

His  published  works  are  numerous  and  valuable. 
We  have  a  volume  of  his  sermons  in  our  possession, 
which  will  bear  comparison  with  any  which  have  come 
from  the  American  press  within  the  last  fifty  years. 

His  efforts  to  promote  education  were  many,  pro- 
tracted and  zealous.  No  man  who  has  labored  in  so 
small  a  field,  has  had  more  influence  in  promoting 
education  than  Mr.  Andros.  Every  school  district, 
and  almost  every  family,  and  every  child  of  every 
family,  felt  his  influence  in  this  respect.  Well  do 
we  remember,  when  he  used  to  visit  the  school  where 
we  spent  our  boyhood ;  the  encouragement  he  held 
out  to  industry — the  flowers  which  he  scattered  along 
the  path  which  ascends  the  hill  of  science — and  the 
moral  and  religious  instruction  which  fell  from  his 
lips.  How  would  the  fire  kindle  in  his  eye,  and 
words  of  burning  eloquence  flow  from  his  tongue  (be- 
cause the  real  feeling  of  his  heart) ,  as  the  scintilla- 
tions of  knowledge  were  struck  out  by  the  contact  of 
mind  with  mind,  and  both  with  science !  We  con- 
sider it  an  act  of  filial  duty,  which  the  inhabitants  of 
Berkeley  are  bound  to  render,  to  erect  a  monument 
to  his  memory  for  what  he  did  for  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion among  them,  and  we  are  willing  to  contribute 
our  mite  to  carry  forward  so  good  an  enterprise,  but 
as  they  did  not  do  it,  a  beautiful  one  of  marble  has 
been  erected  by  his  children.  Mr.  Andros  received 
the  honorary  degree  of  A,  M.  from  Brown  University 


REV.    THOMAS   AXDROS.  183 

in  1790.  He  proved  to  a  demonstration  that  a  colle- 
giate education  is  not  essential  to  the  success  of  a 
professional  man.  He  perfected  himself  in  the  class- 
ics so  that  he  prepared  several  young  men  for  college. 
This  little  town,  comparatively  not  "larger  than  a 
man's  hand,"  with  its  few  hundreds  of  inhabitants,  has 
produced  more  educated  men.  and  perhaps  more 
clergymen  than  any  other  town  in  this  commonwealth, 
in  comparison  with  its  population. 

Ten  ministers,  who  became  pastors  of  Congregational 
churches,  were  educated  here  during  his  ministry. 

There  is  a  way  in  which  a  good  man  "  being  dead 
yet  speaketh."  Mr.  A.  now  speaks  to  many,  both 
by  his  written  works, 'and  by  the  private  Christians 
and  ministers  of  the  gospel  raised  up  through  his 
instrumentality.  Thus  will  he  continue  to  speak  and 
explain,  and  magnify,  and  do  good  to  men,  and  bring 
glory  to  God,  for  many  years  to  come. 

On  particular  topics,  or  special  occasions,  he  had  a 
power  of  adaptation  seldom  equalled.  Some  of  these 
sermons  are  fresh  in  our  recollection.  One  sermon 
on  "the  duties  of  the  father  of  the  family  to  his  house- 
hold," founded  upon  the  conduct  of  Eli  towards  his 
sons;  another  on  the  same  subject,  from  the  lolst 
Psalm  ;  another  on  "the  iniquities  of  the  fathers  being 
visited  upon  the  children,"  founded  on  the  curse  of 
Joshua  denounced  against  him  who  should  rebuild 
Jericho,  and  fulfilled  in  Hiel  the  Bethelite  who  rebuilt 
that  accursed  city  five  hundred  years  after  the  death 
of  Joshua ;  another  on  being  dismayed  at  the  signs  of 


REV.    THOMAS  ANDRO81. 

heaven,  as  the  heathen  are  ;  Jer.  x,  2  :  "Thus  sailh 
the  Lord,  learn  not  the  way  of  the  heathen, 
and  be  not  dismayed  at  the  signs  of  heaven  ;  for  the 
heathen  are  dismayed  at  them."  During  the  war  of 
1812,  in  his  fast  and  thanksgiving  day's  sermons  he 
exhibited  his  federal  proclivities  very  strongly.  As 
he  had  previously  denounced  Thomas  Jefferson  as  a 
French  infidel;  so  during  that  war  he  denounced 
president  Madison  as  in  league  with  Napoleon  Bona- 
parte. He  commended  Gov.  Strong  because  he  would 
not  allow  the  soldiers  of  Massachusetts  to  be  carried 
out  of  the  state.  And  many  other  occasions,  on  such 
subjects,  and  at  such  times,  he  was  indeed,  "raised 
above  all  fear  of  man."  and  spoke  as  by  authority. 
Such  topics,  thus  discussed,  in  these  times  of  "man's 
upward  tendency  and  progresive  development,"  and 
expansion  in  transcendental  glorification,  and  terres- 
trial nonsense,  would  seem  very  tame  and  meet  with 
a  cool  reception  from  popular  assemblies. 

There  was  a  long  and  bitter  quarrel  between  Mr. 
Andros  and  some  of  his  parishioners,  which  resulted 
in  the  dismission  of  the  pastor ;  and,  though  more 
than  forty  years  have  elapsed  since  his  dismission,  the 
church  and  society  have  never  recovered  from  that 
shock.  Indeed  since  Mr.  Andros'  dismission  they 
have  wandered  in  the  wilderness  longer  than  did  Isra- 
el of  old.  This  should  admonish  other  churches  not 
to  sacrifice  an  old  minister ;  an  admonition  greatly 
needed  at  the  present  time,  when  old  ministers  are 
too  often  treated  like  old  horses,  The  church  has 


REV.    THOMAS    ANDROS.  185 

been  since  supplied,  first  by  Rev.  Ebenezer  Poor, 
whose  pastorate  continued  two  years  only.  He  was 
followed  by  Rev.  J,  U.  Parsons.  His  pastorate  con- 
tinued but  two  years.  Rev.  Richard  Chamberlain  was 
the  next  pastor,  and  he  staid  but  two  years  like  his 
immediate  predecessors.  His  parish  has  since  been 
supplied  by  Rev.  Mr.  Gay,  of  Bridgewater.  Rev.  L. 
R.  Eastman,  who  divided  them  into  two  bands  ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Barney,  Rev.  Mr.  Fairley,  Rev.  Mr.  Teel,  and 
how  many  I  have  omitted,  I  am  unable  1o  say.  At 
present  they  have  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chamberlain,  a  native 
of  my  old  parish  in  Woodstock,  Conn. 

Thus  we  have  the  curious  fact  that  while  the  first  two 
ministers  preached  nearly  a  hundred  years,  and  would 
have  completed  that  number  had  not  father  Andros 
been  driven  off,  (for  he  preached  a  number  of  years 
after  he  was  dismissed,)  they  have  since  been  almost 
constantly  changing.  It  is  lamentable  that  a  people  once 
so  "stable"  should  have  become  "unstable  as  water." 

The  part  that  went  off  with  Mr.  Eastman  were  sup- 
plied by  Rev.  Mr.  Roberts,  until  his  decease,  since 
when,  they  have  become  Methodists. 

As  to  the  music  in  the  old  church  of  Berkeley,  Col. 
Adoniran  Crane  was  the  leader  of  the  choir,  from  the 
time  that  our  "memory  runnel h  not  to  the  contrary." 
He  was  of  the  race  of  the  "Anaks"  in  stature,  a  man 
of  considerable  mind,  schoolmaster,  town  clerk, jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  representative,  etc.  He  had  not  so 
many  offices  as  the  father  of  "Dick  Hairbrain"  in 
Trumbull,  as  he  was  never  a  deacon.  He  used  to  cry 


186  REV.    THOMAS   ANDROS. 

the  intentions  of  marriage  in  a  language  which  no  one 
understood,  when  he  did  not  pin  them  to  :i  post.  He 
used  the  old-fashioned  "pitch  pipe"  in  starting  the 
tune  which  always  made  me  jump,  somewhat  after  the 
fashion  of  the  steam  whistle  of  our  modern  times. 

Afterwards  the  bass  viol  was  introduced,  but  it  was 
considered  by  some  as  ungodly  an  instrument  as  we 
have  seen  their  fathers  viewed  the  organ,  given  by 
Bishop  Berkeley,  under  Rev.  Mr.  Tobey's  ministry. 
When  the  singers  became  offended  and  all  left  their 
seats  and  appeared  below,  and  thus  proclaimed  to  the 
whole  congregation  their  miffs.  Father  Andros  would 
whip  them  back  again  with  a  pulpit  lashing.  I  remem- 
ber when  they  had  all  left  their  seats,  he  read,  "Paul 
and  Silas  singing  at  midnight,  and  expounded  after 
this  fashion,  thus  we  see  that  Paul  and  Silas  while 
bound  in  prison  could  sing  at  midnight,  though  we 
can  have  no  singing  at  midday  when  at  liberty." 
Old  Deacon  Sanford  would  then  start  up,  and  in  his 
stentorian  voice,  exclaim,  "sing  Moar,  or  Old  Hun- 
dred," and  the  welkin  would  ring. 

Mr.  Andros  was  the  oldest  member  of  the  Taunton 
Association  at  the  time  of  his  decease,  on  which  occasion 
they  entered  the  following  eulogy  upon  their  records  : 

"It  is  with  most  unaffected  grief  that  the  association 
place  upon  the  records,  a  note  of  that  solemn  Provi- 
dence, by  which  our  venerable  father  in  the  ministry, 
Rev.  Thomas  Andros,  of  Berkeley,  has  been  removed 
from  earth  to  his  final  account. 

"He  departed  this  life  Dec.  30,  1845,  aged  eighty- 


REV.    THOMAS   ANDROS.  187 

six  years  and  eight  months.  His  funeral  obsequies 
were  ati  ended  by  ;i  large  number  of  his  townsmen 
and  several  clergymen  from  the  vicinity ;  and  a  ser- 
mon was  preached  on  the  occasion  by  Rev.  E.  (Jay, 
of  Bridge  water,  then  supplying  the  pulpit  in  Berkeley. 

"We  enter  his  name  on  our  records,  as  one  of  prec- 
ious memory,  in  testimony  of  the  high  veneration  with 
which  we  regard  the  man,  whose  heart  was  warm,  whose 
hands  were  pure,  and  whose  life  exemplified  tho  doc- 
trines which  he  delighted  to  commend  to  others." 

Mr.  Andros  was  an  eminent  example  of  a  self- 
taught  mull,  «  warm  patron  of  education,  and  a  deep- 
ly interested  friend  of  the  rising  generation. 

As  a  preacher,  he  held  a  high  rank  ;  as  a  pastor, 
lie  was  affectionate,  laborious  and  untiring  in  interest, 
both  for  the  spiritual  and  temporal  welfare  of  his  peo- 
ple, to  whom  he  ministered  more  than  forty  years. 
As  an  author  his  merit  will  not  suffer  in  comparison 
with  many  whose  works  are  much  more  voluminous. 
His  sermon  entitled  "trial  of  the  spirits,"  and  his 
tract  entitled,  "  Letter  to  a  friend,"  should  be  men- 
tioned with  particular  consideration. 

It  affords  great  happiness  to  be  able  to  say  in  con- 
clusion, that  the  evidence  of  his  personal  interest  in 
that  gospel,  which  it  was  his  delight  to  make  known 
to  others,  was  so  satisfactory,  that  his  trust  in  it  to 
the  last  was  unshaken,  and  that  its  consolation  shone 
around  in  entering  "the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death," 
in  undimmed  brightness. 

The  folio  wing  are  some  published  productions  of  Mr. 


188  REV.    THOMAS   ANDEOS. 

Andros'  "  light  to  the  upright  in  darkness,"  a  sermon 
occasioned  l)y  the  death  of  Capt.  John  Crane  1795. 

"A  reference,  not  only  of  the  good,  but  of  the  evil 
that  befalls  us  in  life,  to  the  hand  of  God,  an  essen- 
tial principle  of  piety";  a  sermon  occasioned  by  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Andros,  1798. 

"A  thanksgiving  sermon, "delivered  before  the  con- 
gregational society  in  Berkeley,  1808. 

"The  Criminality  of  Restraining  pr.iyer,"  1808. 

"Foreign  Influence,"  A  thanksgiving  sermon,.! 8 12. 

"Bible  News  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  as 
reported  by  Rev.  Noah  Worcester,  not  correct,"  1813. 

"Seasonable  Thoughts  on  Human  Creeds  or  Arti- 
cles of  Faith,  by  an  Orthodox  Clergyman,  shown  to 
be  very  unreasonable  thoughts,  1814. 

"Truth  in  Opinion  the  only  Foundation  of  piety," 
a  sermon  delivered  at  the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  Benj. 
Whittemore,  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  1815. 

"Modern  Philosophical  Mixtures,  Degrading  the 
Character  and  Defeating  the  Moral  Influence  of  the 
Gospel  Detected,"  a  sermon,  1819. 

"An  Essay  in  which  the  Doctrine  of  a  Positive  Effi- 
ciency, Exciting  the  Will  of  Men  loSin,  is  candidly  dis- 
cussed, and  shown  to  be  unphilosophical,"  etc.,  1820. 

" Sermons "  on  various  subjects  embracing  six  dis- 
courses, 1*23. 

"The  Memory  of  the  Just  is  Blessed,"  preached 
at  the  funeral  of  the  Hon.  Samuel  To  bey,  1823. 

"The  Temperance  Society  Vindicated  and  Recom- 
mended, "a  sermon,  1830. 


REV.    JOEL   STEELE.  189 

REV.   JOEL   STEELE,  METHODIST. 


JOKL  STEELE  was  born  in  Tolland,  Conn.,  Auirust 
1,  1782.  Ho  was  the  son  of  Weuzer  Steele  and  great 
grandson  of  the  Rev.  Stephen  Steele,  a  gr.-iduate  of 
College  in  1720  and  the  first  settled  minister  of 
Tolland.  Mr.  Steele's  father  is  believed  to  have  been 
a  farmer  of  moderate  means.  There  was  a  large  fam- 
ily, Joel  being  the  oldest ;  one  previously  born  hav- 
ing died  in  infancy.  He  had  a  fair,  common  school 
education  and  had  made  such  attainments  when  a  lit- 
tle over  twenty  years  of  :ige  as  to  be  judged  compet- 
ent to  teach  a  public  school,  which  calling  h3  followed 
for  some  time,  it  was  during  this  period  that  he 
was  converted  and  soon  after  joined  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  was  soon  found  to  have  "gifts" 
in  the  way  of  exhortation  and  according  to  the  us.-ige 
of  this  denomination  in  those  days,  was  encouraged 
to  exercise  them.  This  soon  resulted  in  a  license  to 
preach  and  in  no  great  time  thereafter  in  admission  to 
the  conference.  This  was  when  he  was  about  twenty- 
four  years  old,  or  in  the  year  180G.  He  had  the 
usual  experience  of  young  Methodist  preachers  of 
that  period.  The  new  men  were  sent  to  the  new  cir- 
cuits extending  sometimes  over  whole  counties  or 
perhaps  embracing  several  counties.  The  compensa- 
tion was  sometimes  a  little  and  sometimes  less  and 
never  anything  very  tempting.  But  the  youthful 
itinerant  usually  owned  a  horse  and  pair  of  saddle- 
,  about  as. much  of  &  wardrobe  as, tie  could. carry 


190  REV.    JOEL   STEELE, 

with  him,  and  a  few  books.  There  was  scarcely  such 
a  thing  known  as  any  fixed  abode — like  a  celebrated 
modern  military  man  their  "headquarters"  were  "iu 
the  saddle,"  and  they  were  tolerably  sure  of  such 
entertainment  and  hospitality  as  the  farm  houses  on 
their  various  routes  furnished. 

One  of  the  first  appointments  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  a  long  and  -narrow  range  of  territory 
lying  along  the  Connecticut  river  in  the  state  of  Ver- 
mont. Soon  we  find  him  travelling  an  equally  exten- 
sive region  in  the  remote  part  of  Maine,  and  again, 
not  long  after,  on  Cape  Cod.  It  was  while  travelling 
on  this  circuit  that  he  became  acquainted  with  and  in 
1810  married,  Jerusha  R.,  daughter  of  C:ipt.  Eleazer 
Higgins  of  Wellfleet,  Mass.  His  first  appointment 
after  this  was  in  the  state  of  Connecticut.  The  next  in 
Maine.  The  third  in  Vermont.  To  such  extensive 
removals  were  even  the  ministers  who  had  families 
liable  in  those  d:iys.  But  as  he  grew  a  little  older 
and  his  family  began  to  increase,  the  removals  were 
for  shorter  distances,  and  for  several  years  he  occu- 
pied circuits  some  half  a  dozen  of  which  were  contained 
within  a  radius  of  perhaps  not  more  than  thirty  or 
forty  miles. 

In  his  first  appointment  after  leaving  Vermont,  at 
Lempster,  N.  II.,  he  buried  his  wife.  She  was  a 
lovely  woman  of  uniform  nnd  earnest  christian  char- 
acter and  a  sweet  singer.  She  l«jft  seven  children,  the 
t  of  whom  was  only  about  thirteen  years  of  age. 

lu  1323  XL\  StQjta  was  m  inicd  to  Mii*  Abigail 


REV.   JOEL   STEELE.  191 

Lane,  of  Straftbrd,  Yt.,  and  soon  after  moved  to 
Needham,  Mass.,  and  the  subsequent  year  to  Well- 
fleet,  Mass.  Here  we  note  some  of  the  singular  vicis- 
situdes of  the  rnethodist  itinerant's  life.  For  some 
fifteen  }'ears  during  his  first  wife's  life,  their  residence 
had  almost  uniformly  been  at  a  great  distance  from 
her  home  and  all  her  relations.  Just  as  in  the  course 
of  their  removals  from  place  to  place  they  were  be- 
ginning to  go  towards  the  scenes  of  her  childhood,  she 
died.  In  a  little  more  than  two  years  after  her  death, 
her  husband  and  family  found  themselves  located  in 
the  very  town  where  she  was  born  and  in  the  midst 
of  nearly  all  her. kindred  and  friends.  But  they  were 
now  also  at  a  correspondingly  remote  distance  from 
the  home  of  the  second  Mrs.  Steele,  and  were  destined 
for  many  years,  indeed  almost  constantly  to  the  very 
end,  to  be  at  this  distance. 

Mr.  Steele  occupied  appointments  during  the  last 
ten  or  twelve  yeais  of  liis  life,  in  Eastham,  Sandwich, 
East  Weymouth,  Saugus,  Walpole,  Easton  and 
Gloucester.  At  the  latter  place  an  illness  with  which 
he  h.id  for  sains  tim3  bssii  afflicted, a&tn3ly  :  cancer 
on  the  lip,  became  so  developed,  that  he  was  obliged  to 
desi>t  from  preaching,  and  was  in  1845  placed  on  the 
superannuated  list.  He  died  August  23,  1846,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-four,  having  been  in  the  ministry  about 
forty  years.  He  left  eleven  children  all  of  whom  lived 
t  >  mature  a;e.  Two  sons  are  now  in  the  ministry 
and  one  daughter  maivied  a  minister. 

Mr.  Steele  was   a  mau  of  genial    dis;joaition  j  & 


REV.    JOEL   STEELE. 

hearty,  liberal  man,  and  something  of  a  favorite 
among  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  and  with  his  par- 
ishioners, and  made  many  friends  outside  of  his  own 
denomination.  While  not  a  scholarly  man,  nor  a 
great  preacher,  he  had  considerable  natural  ability, 
and  was  somewhat  noted  for  the  revival  character  of 
his  labors.  There  were  many  conversions  in  a  large 
proportion  of  his  charges.  He  was  especially  gift- 
ed in  prayer,  and  at  a  camp  meeting  or  in  special 
revival  services  his  influence  was  remarkably  effec- 
tive and  powerful. 

The  above  is  from  the  pen  of  Rev.  George  M. 
Steele,  D.  D.,  son  of  Rev.  Joel  Steele.  In  my  youth, 
I  was  well  acquainted  with  Rev.  Joel  Steele,  as  I 
taught  the  high  school  in  Wellfleet,  Mass.,  Avhere  he 
then  resided.  He  was  then  about  fifty  years  old.  He 
was  a  man  of  ready  wit,  and  alway  showed  it  at  the 
right  time.  I  recollect  about  that  revival ;  there  came 
down  a  young  man  to  teach  a  district  school  in  a  dis- 
tant part  of  the  town,  who  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to 
preach  Universalism  in  his  school-house,  Sunda}'  even- 
ings. Mr.  Steele  and  myself  attended  one  evening. 
When  he  had  finished  his  sermon,  he  said,  "there  was 
liberty  if  any  one  had  anything  to  say."  Mr.  Steele 
arose  to  speak,  but  before  he  had  spoken  one  sen- 
tence, all  the  lights  were  bio \\nout.  Mr.  Steele  very 
gravely  remarked:  "One  thing  is  very  evident,  you 
love  darkness  rather  than  light." 

The  next  day  he  sent  a  note  to  Mr.  Steele,  and  to 
MX.  Davis,  the  (Jou^iv^utiwiil  iuiuUu>r,  that  lau 


REV.    JOEL   STEELE.  193 

should  preach  again  the  next  Sunday  night,  and 
would  be  pleased  to  have  them  attend,  and  they 
should  be  treated  civilly.  I  said  to  Mr.  Davis,  "tt-11 
him  to  come  into  your  church,  as  many  will  wish  to 
hear  the  discussion."  He  did  so  ;  and  a  large  assem- 
bly was  convened  in  Mr.  Davis'  church.  After  the 
young  man  had  spoken,  Mr.  Steele  arose  and  gave 
an  account  of  what  took  place  the  preceedii  g  Sunday 
evening.  Mr.  Davis  then  addressed  the  assembly, 
and  used  up  the  young  man.  The  best  of  the  joke 
was  in  going  home  that  evening  behind  old  Captain 
Hatch  and  his  wife.  The  old  gentleman  was  consid- 
erably riled  up,  and  expressed  himself  as  follows : 
"Fool!  little  fool!  he  ought  to  have  known  better; 
he  might  have  known  that  Mr.  Davis  would  shake  him 
just  as  a  dog  does  a  rabbit.  I  would  have  given  five 
hundred  dollars  if  Ballou  had  been  here  to-night." 

Another  instance  of  Mr.  Steele's  ready  wit;  we 
wanted  to  come  to  Boston  ;  I  was  to  furnish  the  horse 
and  carriage  and  he  to  pay  the  expenses.  '1  he  first 
day's  ride  we  came  up  to  Sandwich.  At  ten  o'clock 
we  retired,  telling  the  landlord  to  call  u-  early  in  the 
morning.  He  awoke  us  at  four  o'clock.  Mr.  Steele 
called  for  his  bill.  He  thought  it  was  exorbitant  and 
said  to  the  landlord  very  gravely  and  dryly,  "I  am 
glad  you  waked  me  so  early,  for  if  I  had  slept  as  late 
as  I  generally  do,  I  should  not  have  had  money 
enough  to  pay  my  bill."  Mr.  Steele  was  a  very  gen- 
ial,  companionable,  and  good  man. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
REV.  HENRY  A.  BOARDMAN,  D.  D. 

[FROM  A  SERMON  PREACHED  BY  THE  REV.  JOHN  DE\VlTT,  D.D.] 


"Blessed  is  the  man  whose  delight  is  in  the  law  of  the  Lord ;  and  in  hi?  law 
doth  he  medilate  day  and  night.  And  he  shall  be  like  a  tree  planted  by  the  riv- 
ers of  water,  that  bringing  iorth  his  fruit  in  his  season;  his  leaf  also  shall  not 
wither;  and  whatsoever  he  doeth  shall  prosper.  For  tiie  Lord  knoweth  the  way 
of  the  righteous." — Ps.  i.  ist,  3d,  3d,  and  6th  verses, 

THERE  is  a  tendency,  widespread  and  well-defined,  to 
underrate  the  greatness  of  a  life  as  quiet  and  unevent- 
ful as  that  which  we  have  met  to  commemorate  and 
recall.  Talents,  influence  and  character,  men  are  too 
apt  to  associate  with  noise  and  publicity,  with  the 
gathering  and  acclamation  of  multitudes.  All  of  us 
are  tempted  to  measure  power  by  the  fleeting  sensa- 
tion excited ;  not  by  the  abiding  impression  that 
would  be  produced  could  thought  have  its  perfect 
work.  The  blazing  meteor  diverts  the  eye  from 
Orion  or  Pleiades,  and  it  requires  reflection  to  re-im- 
press the  truth  that  not  so  sublimely  in  the  "bearded 
meteor  trailing  light,"  as  in  the  "starry  clusters,"  the 
heavens  declare  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  firmament 
showeth  his  handiwork.  But  after  death  cometh  the 
judgment,  here  as  well  as  above.  Calm  thought  is  in 
abeyance  while  the  man  lives  and  moves  among  us. 
The  feelings  are  unduly  wrought  upon  by  a  thousand 
circumstances,  which,  on  reflection,  we  should  regard 
as  insignificant.  Even  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  while  he 
lived,  was  misunderstood  by  those  to  whom  he  was 
specially  revealed.  It  was  expedient  for  them  that 


REV.    HEXRY  A.    BOARDMAN.  195 

he  should  go  away.  Up  to  the  day  of  his  death  they 
were  moved  far  more  powerfully  by  what  was  out- 
ward and  material  than  by  what  was  inward  and  spir- 
itual in  the  life  of  their  Master.  They  did  not  know 
him  until  the  cloud  had  received  him  out  of  sight.  So 
Francis  Bacon,  referring,  as  Macaulay  interprets  the 
words  of  his  will,  not  to  his  weak  wickedness,  but  to 
his  splendid  contributions  to  the  advancement  of  learn- 
ing, left  his  name  and  memory  to  "the  next  age." 
Thus  death  prepares  the  way  for  justice. 

"Great  captains  with  their  guns  and  drums 
histurb  onr  judgment  for  the  hour: 

But  at  last  silence  comes." 

Now  that  the  form  which,  for  forty-seven  years, 
was  a  familiar  form  in  our  city,  has  vanished,  and  the 
voice  which  these  walls  echoed  is  silent,  the  time  has 
come  to  recall  his  life,  and  to  state  our  impressions  of 
the  man  and  of  his  career. 

JSor  is  it  unbecoming  to  select  for  this  purpose  this 
sacred  place  and  this  holy  time.  Dr.  Boardman  was, 
above  all  else,  "a  servant  of  God  and  of  the  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ,"  and  if  the  Gospel  of  Christ  is  most  effect- 
ively preached  by  the  lives  of  his  servants,  it  is  only 
preaching  the  gospel  to  repeat  the  story  of  them  after 
they  have  died.  Certainly  I  need  offer  no  apology 
for  briefly  relating  the  incidents  of  the  life  of  a  man 
of  whom,  whatever  else  may  be  said  of  him,  we  can 
truthfully  repeat  what  is  said  of  the  blessed  man  of 
the  first  Psalm  :  "Blessed  is  the  man  whose  delight  is 
in  the  law  of  the  Lord,  and  in  his  law  doth  he  medi- 
tate day  and  night,  And  he  shall  be  like  a  tree 


196  REV.    HENRY  A.    BOARDMAN. 

planted  by  the  rivers  of.  water,  thnt  bringeth  forth 
his  fruit  in  his  season.  His  leaf  shall  not  wither,  and 
whatsoever  he  doeth  shall  prosper ;  for  the  Lord 
knoweth  the  way  of  the  righteous." 

Henry  Augustus  Boardman  was  horn  in  Troy,  N. 
Y,  on  the  9th  day  of  Jununry,  1808.  His  father  was 
John  Boardman,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  Puritan 
families  that  settled  in  Avhat  is  now  known  as  Litch- 
field  Count}',  Connecticut,  about  the  middle  of  the 
seventeenth  century.  John  Boardman  became  a  mer- 
chant. About  the  beginning  of  this  century  he  asso- 
ciated himself  with  another  gentleman,  also  bt.-aringa 
well-known  Connecticut  name,  and  established  in 
Troy — which  had  just  then  been  or  was  soon  after- 
wards incorporated  as  a  village — the  firm  of  Hill- 
house  &  Boardman.  The  house  prospered  ;  and  Mr. 
Boardman,  dying  in  1813,  when  Henry  was  but  five 
years  old,  left  his  widow  and  children  a  modest  fort- 
une. He  was  an  able  merchant,  a  public-spirited  cit- 
izen, and  a  consistent  Christian.  Dr.  Boardman, 
though  his  rocolleciions  of  his  father  were,  of  course, 
exceedingly  meagre,  was  taught  by  his  mother  deeply 
to  venerate  his  memory. 

Dr.  Boardman's  mother  Avas  Clarinda  Starbuck,  of 
Nantueket,  Mass.,  the  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
(Folger)  Starbuck.  She  was  born  in  1773.  The 
Starbucks  were  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
Edward  Starbuck  fled  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century  from  Salisbury,  in  Essex,  the  north- 
eastern county  of  the  •commonwealth,  to  escape  the 


KEY.    HENKY   A.    BOARDMAN.  197 

friendliness  of  the  Puritans  ;  moving  in  al  1  probability  by 
water  across  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  around  the 
sandy  shore  of  Cape  tod,  to  the  island,  on  which  he 
founded  a  new  home.  There  the  family  lived  at 
pence.  They  prospered  as  farmers  from  generation 
to  generation.  Allot*  Dr.  Boardman's  maternal  ancest- 
ors were  reared  as  Friends.  His. grandmother,  as  I 
have  said,  was  Mary  Folger.  Mary  Folger  was  the 
great-granddaughter  of  Peter  Folger,  who  was  the 
grandfather  of  Benjamin  Franklin.  Through  the  Fol- 
gers,  Dr.  Boardman  was  also  related  to  one  ol  the 
most  notable  women  that  lived  in  Philadelphia :  a 
woman  Avho  held  opinions  on  many  subjects,  sharply 
opposed  to  those  associated  with  Dr.  Boardman's  name, 
but  a  woman  whose  lofty  purposes,  and  distinguished 
ability  and  wide  culture,  and  fine  simplicity  of  char- 
acter and  life-  he  would  have  been  quick  to  recognize. 
I  refer  to  the  late  Lucretia  Mott,  who  has  within  a 
few  weeks  been  carried  to  her  grave,  lamented  by  a 
wide  circle  of  friends,  which  embraces  distinguished 
men  and  women  of  more  than  one  land,  and  creed, 
and  race. 

Dr.  Boardman's  mother  attended  the  Friends'  meet- 
ing at  Nantucket,  while,  she  remained  in  her  father's 
home.  But  when  she  married  Mr.  Boardman  and 
went  to  Troy,  she  and  her  husband  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  church.  In  this  way,  though  the  son  of 
a  Puritan  father  and  of  a  "Quaker"  mother,  your  pas- 
tor was  born  in  the  church  of  which  he  became  so  dis- 
tinguished and  influential  a  minister. 


198  REV.    HENRY  A.    BOARDMAN. 

If  he  was  unfortunate  in  losing  his  father  when  but 
five  years  of  age,  he  felt  throughout  his  life  profound- 
ly grateful  to  God  that  his  mother  lived  until  he  had 
almost  reached  middle  life.     She  died  on  the  2d  of 
March,  1846.     Mrs.  John  Boardman  was  a  remarka- 
ble woman.     The  death  of  her  husband  threw  upon 
her  the  sole  responsibility  of  rearing  a  large  family. 
Dr.  Charles  Wadsworth  was  her  pastor  for  several 
years  before  her  death :  and  in  a  beautiful  tribute, 
from  which  I  regret  that  time  does  not  permit  me  to 
quote,  he  records  his  high  estimate  of  her  ability  and 
profound  piety.     Her  niece,  Miss  Starbuck,  of  Nan- 
tucket,  says  that  "she  was  a  good  and  dutiful  daugh- 
ter and  wife,   a  kind  sister,   a  woman   of  excellent 
sense  and  judgment,  not  merely  just,  but  liberal  in 
her  dealings  with  others,  and  respected,  esteemed  and 
beloved  by  relatives  and  friends."     When  God  called 
her  from  her  labors  on  earth  to  her  reward  in  heaven, 
her  son  poured  out  his  grief  and  gratitude  and  admi- 
ration in  letters  to  his  friends,  from  which  I  am  per- 
mitted to  quote.     "My  thoughts,"  he  writes,  "have 
been  busy  with  the  past.     Bereft  of  a  father  when  on- 
ly five  years  of  age,  I  was  thrown,  with  my  brothers 
and  sisters,  upon  the  sole  care  of  my  beloved  mother. 
She  accepted  the  tiust  to  which  Providence  called  her, 
and  from  that  time  lived  for  God  and  for  her  child- 
ren.    When  I  consider  with  what  blended  love  and 
firmness,  with  what  patience  of  fortitude,  with  what 
'meekness  of  wisdom'  and  steadfast  reliance  on  God, 
she  pursued  through  so  many  years,  and  in  the  face 


REV.    HENRY  A.    BOARDMAN.  199 

of  innumerable  discouragements  and  embarrasments, 
her  arduous  work,  I  cannot  refrain  from  admiring  the 
riches  of  that  grace  which  guided  and  sustained  her." 
After  referring  lo  Dr.  Wadsworth's  "eloquent  and  ap- 
propriate," and  as  he  believes  nil  who  knew  her  must 
have  felt  to  be  "just  tribute  to  her  character,"  and  af- 
ter dwelling  at  some  length  on  her  wise  and  large 
benevolence  and  her  love  of  the  word  of  God,  he 
closes  his  letter  (written,  it  will  be  remembered  when 
he  was  thirty-eight  years  old,  and  after  he  had  been 
pastor  of  this  church  for  thirteen  years)  with  these 
words  :  "Never  have  I  known  a  mother  more  devo- 
ted to  her  children,  more  disposed  to  deny  herself  and 
make  sacrifices  for  their  comfort,  more  solicitious  for 
them  in  sickness  or  in  danger,  more  tenderly  alive  to 
^heir  sorrows,  more  sagacious  and  prudent  in  giving 
them  counsel,  more  unwearied  in  her  efforts  to  make 
their  home  pleasant  and  attractive  to  them,  or  more 
sincerely  concerned  for  their  best  interests  in  time 
and  eternity.  Her  character  is  a  rich  legacy  to  her 
children,  and  my  tongue  must  cleave  to  the  roof 
of  my  mouth,  if  I  forget  to  bless  God  that  I  have  had 
such  a  mother." 

Thus  in  his  early  home,  religion,  intelligence  and 
refinement  united  to  mould  the  mind,  and  form  the 
taste,  and  determine  the  character  of  the  child  and 
growing  boy.  His  parents  and  their  other  children 
all  preceded  him  on  the  inevitable  journey  to  the  oth- 
er world.  Their  bodies  are  buried  at  Troy.  Not 
many  years  since,  as  the  last  surviving  member  of  his 


200  REV.    HENRY  A.   BOABKMAN. 

father's  household,  he  visited  their  graves,  and  caused 
to  be  inscribed  on  the  central  monument  this  sentence, 
which  finally  tells  the  story  of  their  religious  nature  : 
"Jesus  Christ,  .of  whom  the  whole  family,  in  heaven 
and  on  earth,  is  named." 

I  am  happy  in  being  able  to  state,  with  satisfactory 
details,  the  reasons  that  led  him  to  turn  aside  from  his 
chosen  path  in  life,  as  these  were  unfolded  to  the  in- 
timate and  trusted  friend,  from  whose  tribute  to  his 
pastor,  I  have  just  quoted.  Judge  Porter,  in  reply 
to  my  inquiries,  writes  :  "All  that  1  know  respecting 
the  reasons  wnich  induced  Dr.  Boardman  to  abandon 
the  study  of  the  law  and  to  enter  upon  that  of  theol- 
ogy, was  derived  from  conversations  with  him,  held 
sometimes  in  his  stu  ly,  sometimes  in  my  office,  but 
oftener  in  the  streets.  It  seems  that  during  his  col- 
lege course  at  Yale,  it  was  intended  by  his  friends  and 
himself  that  he  should  become  a  lawyer.  Accordingly, 
on  his  graduation  in  1829,  he  took  up  the  study  of 
the  law,  and  for  several  months  applied  himself  dili- 
gently to  the  reading  of  the  elementary  works.  I 
never  heard  him  mention  the  name  of  a  preceptor,  but 
I  infer  that  some  friend  of  his  father's  family  in  Troy, 
directed  his  studies.  He  became  fond  of  the  law,  was 
greatly  impresoed  with  the  clearness  of  the  definitions 
which  he  found  in  the  works  of  the  old  writers,  with 
the  profound  logic  which  these  writers  employed,  and 
more  than  all,  w  th  the  comprehensiveness  of  the  sci- 
ence of  jurisprudence.  He  never  lost  his  fondness 
for  these  studies.  I  have  known;  him  to  read  elabo- 


REV.    HEXRY   A.    BOARDMAN.  201 

rate  legal  arguments  written  by  his  friends  in  cases  in 
which  he  had  no  interest  whatever.  I  have,  on  a  few 
occasions,  seen  him  in  court  listening  to  oral  discuss- 
ions. In  the  long  protracted  jury  trial  which  grew 
out  of  the  suspension  of  Mr.  George  H.  Stuart,  for 
the  alleged  singing  of  hymns,  I  remember  that  Dr. 
Boardman  sat  out  the  long  speeches  of  coun-el  in  a 
crowded  court  room,  and  seemed  to  greatly  enjoy  the 
arguments  which  were  presented. 

"While  engaged  in  the  legal  studies  of  which  I  have 
spoken,  a  train  of  thought  of  this  kind  occurred  to 
him  :  this  is  all  very  well  ;  but  there  must  be  a  higher 
and  better  kind  of  law.  The  system  of  law  which 
governs  the  moral  universe  must  be  more  certain,  com- 
plete and  comprehensive.  What  do  I  know  of  this 
law?  What  do  I  know  of  the  Creator  and  his  attri- 
butes ?  Is  the  account  given  in  the  Scriptures  authen- 
tic ?  If  it  be,  then  the  entrance  into  this  world  of  the 
Savior  of  men  to  satisfy  a  divine  law,  is  the  most  stu- 
pendous transaction  the  race  has  witnessed.  If  I  am 
to  devote  myself  to  the  study  of  the  law,  I  ought  to 
begin  further  back,  and  know  something  more  of  mat- 
ters in  which  my  fellow-men  and  myself  have  so  vast 
a  stake.  This  train  of  thought  seems  to  have  led  him 
to  the  study  of  works  combining  philosophy  and  the- 
ology, and  especially,  those  on  the  evidences  of  Chris- 
tianity. The  result  was  an  unqualified  belief  in  the 
authenticity  of  the  sacred  writings,  and  of  the  doc- 
trines which  they  teach.  Next  came  a  question  which 
he  had  not  foreseen.  If  I  really  believe  in  these  doc- 


202  REV.    HENRY  A.    BOARDMAN. 

trines,  why  should  I  not  take  part  in  making  them 
known  to  others?  Why  should  I  devote  my  life  to 
the  study  of  that  law  which  merely  regulates  the  tem- 
poral concerns  of  men  ?  Why  should  I  not  assist  in 
expounding  the  principles  of  that  divine  law  which 
was  intended  to  regulate  their  higher  life?  This  re- 
suited  in  his  entering  the  seminary  at  Princeton,  in 
the  autumn  of  1830.  Concerning  his  course  there, 
you  need  no  information  from  me.  This  only  I  will 
add  :  for  he  frequently  referred  to  it ;  that  during  his 
course  in  the  seminary,  he  clung  closely  to  the  desirfc 
of  spending  his  life  as  the  pastor  of  a  small  church  in 
some  rural  neighborhood,  where  he  could  become  per- 
sonally acquainted  with  the  members  of  his  flock,  ad- 
dress them  in  simple  and  familiar  words,  advise  with 
them  iii  their  cares  and  trials,  and  share  with  them 
their  joys  and  sorrows.  His  call  to  one  of  the  most 
important  city  pulpits,  and  the  pressure  brought  upon 
him  by  his  preceptors  to  accept  the  call,  seems  to  have 
been  the  great  surprise  of  his  life." 

Thus,  he  sacrificed  inclination  to  a  sense  of  duty. 
He  began  his  theological  studies  in  ebedience  to  what 
he  believed  to  be,  and  what  his  career  as  a  clergyman 
justified  him  ever  afterwards  in  believing  to  have  been, 
the  "inward  call  of  God."  But  having  made  the  sac- 
rifice, he  at  once  found  his  reward.  His  life  at  Prince- 
ton he  thoroughly  enjoyed.  Some  of  his  college  friend- 
ships were  renewed  and  new  friendships  formed.  The 
theological  seminary  itself  soon  became  the  object  of 
his  warmest  affection  :  an  affection  which  increased 


REV.    HENRY  A.    BOARDMAN.  203 

with  every  year  of  his  life,  and  was  manifested  in  un- 
tiring and  most  fruitful  labor  to  advance  its  interests. 
This  is  an  appropriate  place  to  say,  that  one  of  the  latt 
labors  of  Dr.  Boardman's  life  was  an  undertaking,  as 
one  of  its  directors,  having  in  view  an  enlargement 
of  its  beneficent  influence.  Of  his  great  indebtedness 
to  his  instructors  at  the  seminary — the  benign  and 
courtly  Dr.  Miller,  the  wise  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander 
and  the  latter's  brilliant  and  inspiriting  son  Addison, 
who  began  his  course  as  instructor,  the  year  in  which 
Mr.  Boardman  became  a  student,  of  his  indebtedness 
to  his  instructors,  Dr.  Boardman  loved  to  speak  in 
terms  of  the  livliest  gratitude.  Charles  Hodge  was 
the  remaining  professor.  Although  Professor  Hodge 
was  ten  years  older  than  Mr.  Boardman,  the  professor 
and  student  were  very  soon  attracted  by  each  other, 
and  became  intimate  friends.  For  forty-eight  years, 
until  the  death  of  Dr.  Hodge,  this  friendship  con- 
tinued, strengthening  all  the  while.  Not  one  event 
occurred  during  this  period  of  almost  a  half  century, 
to  check  for  one  moment  their  intimate  and  almost 
fraternal  intercourse.  Thus  it  became  in  the  highest 
degree  appropriate,  that  when  Dr.  Hodge  had  been  fifty 
years  a  professor  at  Princeton,  Dr.  Boardman  should 
bear  to  him  the  congratulations  of  the  church ;  and 
that,  when  the  venerable  and  renowned  theologian 
was  summoned  to  his  reward,  Dr.  Boardman  should 
deliver  the  discourse  commemorating  his  life  and 
Jabors. 

Just  before  his  graduation  at  Princeton.  Seminary, 


204  REV.    HENRY   A.    BOARDMAN. 

Mr.  Boardmnti  sought  lieensure  from  the  Presbytery 
of  New  York.  He  carried  to  that  body,  testimonials 
from  the  senior  professors  at  Princeton,  Dr.  Miller 
and  Dr.  Alexander.  Dr.  Miller  speaks  of  him  as 
having  "uniformly  sustained,  and  as  still  sustaining 
excellent  standing  in  the  senior  class  of  which  he  is  a 
member  :"and  Dr.  Alexander  says,  "the  religious  and 
moral  character  of  Mr.  Hoardman  is  unspotted ;  his 
talents  and  attainments  are  of  the  most  respectable 
kind,  and  his  promise  of  usefulness  very  great." 
Armed  with  these  testimonials  and  with  his  trial 
pieces,  which  included  an  expository  lecture  on  the 
23d  Psalm,  and  a  sermon  from  Colossians  iii.  3  :  "Set 
your  affections  on  things  above,  riot  on  things  on  the 
earth,"  he  appeared  before  the  Presbytery,  and  was 
ocimincdand  licensed  on  the  17th  of  April,  1838. 

His  appearance  and  manner  at  this  time  must  have 
been  exceedingly  attractive.  A  few  years  later,  the 
portrait,  which  the  older  members  of  the  congregation 
speak  of  in  terms  of  high  praise,  and  which  presents 
a  countenance  of  real  beauty,  of  benignity,  intelli- 
gence and  character,  was  painted  by  Peale.  I  am 
told  by  those  who  recall  the  young  licentiate,  that  his 
pulpit  manners  and  his  elocution  were  marked  by  the 
grace  and  fine  propriety  with  which  all  of  us,  wrho 
heard  him  in  his  later  years,  were  familiar.  Out  of 
the  pulpit,  then  as  always,  he  was  a  Christian  gentle- 
man, affable  to  all  and  approachable  by  all,  yet  not 
without  due  official  dignity,  which  forbade  any  to 
"  despise  his  youth. !'  To  these  we  must  add  the  talents 


REV.    HENRY   A.    BOARDMAN.  205 

and  the  scholarship  which  he  had  already  proved  at  Yale, 
by  carrying  off  the  honors  of  his  class,  and  which  the 
prudent  Dr.  Alexander  had  already  described  as  "of 
the  most  respectable  kind." 

He  was  associated  as  pastor  or  pastor  emeritus  from 
his  ordination  until  his  death  of  th  •  Tenth  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  of  Philadelphia,  which  was  composed 
largely  of  families  from  the  first,  second  and  ^ixth 
churches  of  the  city.  The  gentlemen,  who  were  largely 
instrumental  in  establishing  it,  selected  a  site  for  a 
house  of  worship  on  the  western  frontier  of  the  thickly 
settled  part  of  Philadelphia.  This  building  was  opened 
for  worship  in  December.  1829.  In  the  March  pre- 
ceding the  church  organization  was  perfected.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  McAuley  was  the  first  pastor. 
"After  remaining  here  three  years,  during  which  pe- 
riod his  labors  were  greatly  blessed,"  Dr.  McCauley 
resigned  the  pastorate  in  January,  1833,  and  accepted 
a  call  to  New  York.  The  Rev.  James  W.  Alexander 
seems  to  have  been  the  first  person  to  mention  Mr. 
Boardman's  name  to  the  tenth  church.  "In  1832," 
writes  Mr.  John  Me  Arthur,  now  the  senior  ruling  el- 
der of  the  church,  "the  Presbyterian  newspaper  was 
established.  The  first  editor  resigning  in  the  spring 
of  1833,  Mr.  Alexander  was  called  to  the  position 
thus  made  vacant.  Early  in  that  summer  I  was  called 
to  meet  him  for  ihe  purpose  of  fitting  up  an  office,  and 
in  the  course  of  conversation  he  asked  me  what  church 
I  went  to.  I  told  him  the  tenth  church,  and  that  it 
was  then  without  a  pastor.  He  inquired  whether  we 


206  REV.    HENRY  A.    BOARDMAN. 

had  any  one  in  view,  and  said  that  there  was  a  young 
man  in  the  seminary  at  Princeton,  a  Mr.  Boardman, 
who  he  thought  would  suit  us.  I  made  known  to  Mr. 
John  Stille,  one  of  the  elders,  what  Mr.  Alexander 
had  said.  He  and  Mr.  James  Kerr,  another  elder, 
went  to  Princeton  the  next  day  to  confer  with  the 
professors,  and  to  invite  Mr.  Boardman  to  preach." 

This  invitation  Mr.  Boardmun  accepted.  For  two 
Sundays,  one  in  July  and  the  other  in  August,  he 
"tried  his  gifts"  before  the  congregation.  On  the  2d 
day  of  September  he  received  a  hearty  and  unanimous 
call  to  become  the  pastor.  He  was  made  aware  of  the 
feelings  of  the  congregation  several  weeks  before  the 
formal  call  was  given  him.  He  had  "many  misgiv- 
ings." He  took  them  to  his  professors.  He  took 
them  to  his  God.  At  last  he  was  able  to  decide  the 
great  question,  and  to  write  to  the  committee  of  the 
congregation  the  following  letter  of  acceptance  : 

"PRINCETON,  13th  September,  1833. 
"To  MESSRS.  JOHN   STILLE  AND  WILLIAM  BROWN, 

PHILADELPHIA  : 

"  Gentlemen :  —  After  much  serious  inquiry  and  de- 
liberation. I  have  concluded  to  accept  the  invitation  of 
the  Tenth  Presbyterian  church  to  become  their  pastor. 
I  have  earnestly  endeavored  to  seek  the  guiding  influ- 
ence of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  deciding  this  important 
question  of  duty  ;  but  time  only  can  determine  whether 
the  call  of  the  church  has  been,  in  the  present  case, 
the  call  of  God.  No  considerations  could  have  induced 
me  to  assume  the  weighty  responsibilities  of  such  a 


REV.    HENRY  A.    BOARDMAN.  207 

station  had  I  not  felt  that  those  who  had  invited  me 
to  occupy  it  would  engage  to  support  me  by  their  con- 
stant prayers.  Herein,  under  God,  are  all  my  confi- 
dence and  all  iny  hope. 

"I  should  add  that  it  will  not  be  in  my  power  to 
take  up  my  residence  amongst  you  before  the  month 
of  November. 

"In  Christian  affection,  your  friend  and  servant, 

"HENRY  A.  BOARDMAN." 

The  church  appeared  in  due  time  before  the  Pres- 
bytery to  ask  leave  to  prosecute  the  call,  and  the  Rev. 
Albert  Barnes  wrote  a  cordial  letter,  dated  "in  Pres- 
bytery," to  the  pastor-elect.  Mr.  Boardman's  ordi- 
nation and  installation  took  place  on  the  8th  of 
November.  Two  weeks  afterward  he  was  compelled 
to  go  North  on  a  visit  to  his  family.  On  this  jour- 
ney he  became  ill,  and  thus,  at  the  very  beginning  of 
his  active  life,  laid  the  foundation  of  "the  precarious 
health  which  so  often  afterwards  interrupted  his 
labors."  Dr.  Boardman,  even  in  the  last  years  of  his 
life,  did  not  impress  one  as  an  old  man.  His  step  was 
firm,  his  form  was  erect,  his  walk  was  rapid ;  and 
when  excited,  as  in  the  pulpit,  he  was  wont  to  become 
by  his  subject,  his  voice  was  strong  and  resonant. 
But  even  in  the  early  days  of  his  ministry  he  was  far 
from  robust,  and  he  himself  tells  us  that  the  state  of 
his  health  "repeatedly  led  to  a  suspension  of  my  [his] 
ministrations  for  weeks  and  months  together."  That 
his  labors  were  thus  limited  in  many  directions  I  have 
no  doubt.  That  laboring  under  this  enormous  disad- 


208  REV.    HENRY   A.    BOARDMAN. 

vantage  he  did  so  much,  as  a  preacher,  a  pastor,  an 
author,  a  church  man ,  and  in  the  various  positions  of 
trust  and  influence  to  which  he  was  invited  and  which 
he  consented  to  occupy,  justifies  the  wide  reputation 
he  enjoyed  as  a  man  of  fine  endowments  and  of  large 
attainments. 

The  young  pastor,  while  still  weak,  returned  to  his 
labors.  On  these  he  entered  with  enthusiasm.  His 
congregation  rapidly  increased  and  m  my  were  added 
to  his  churcfc.  Two  years  after  his  installation  he 
wrote  a  paper,  not  meant  for  other  eyes,  and  found 
only  after  his  death,  in  which  he  carefully  reviewed 
his  pastorate  up  to  that  time.  In  this  paper  he  re- 
fers to  the  many  fears  with  which  he  assumed  a  trust 
of  so  great  responsibility.  "But,"  he  adds,  "it  has 
p'eased  God  to  so  bless  the  relation  then  constituted 
between  this  people  and  myself  that  I  cannot  doubt 
that  he  called  me  to  this  station.  Among  the  more 
striking  indications  of  his  kindness  and  mercy  toward 
me  during  the  period  above  mentioned,  I  may  men- 
tion the  following :  the  extraordinary  health,  which 
until  recently,  I  have  enjoyed  ;  ,  the  gen- 

eral  good    health   of  my   family ;  the 

numerous  tokens  of  attachment  from  the  people; 
.     .     .     the  exemption  of  the  congregation  from  pre- 
vailing dissa^e ;     .     .     .     .     the  general  harmjny 
and  good  feeling  among  my  people  ;  the 

great  increase  in  the  si/e  of  the  congregation  ;     .     . 
.     the  assurance  of  spiritual  prosperity,  particu- 
larly in  the  solemn  season  of  revival,  1834-35;  the 


EEV.    HENRY   A.    BOARDMAN.  209 

additions  to  the  church  in  two  years  of  131  members, 
the  large  attendance  at  the  weekly  meetings  ;  the  en- 
largement of  the  Sunday  school,  and  the  increased 
contributions  to  religious  and  charitable  objects.  But 
these  mercies  have  not  been  unmingled  with  afflic- 
tions. It  has  pleased  God  to  remove  unexpectedly, 
our  child,  and  at  this  time  the  hand  of  chastisement 
is  on  me.  The  state  of  my  throat  has  prevented  me 
from  preaching  the  gospel,  with  the  exception  of  a 
single  semion,  for  three  months.  God  has  com- 
manded me  to  be  silent.  He  is  showing  me,  in  away 
which  I  ought  to  understand,  that  He  does  not  need 
my  services  in  the  accomplishment  of  His  work,  and 
that  1  have  need  of  a  more  subdued  and  chastened 
spirit,  of  more  self-knowledge,  and  of  more  holiness 
of  heart  and  life,  in  order  to  the  faithful  discharge  of 
the  duties  of  my  sacred  office." 

He  became  well-known  and  highly  respected 
throughout  the  Presbyterian  church.  Before  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  forty,  he  was  a  "  leader"  in  the 
church's  great  assemblies.  Soon  afterwards,  the 
general  assembly  'selected  him  to  fill  the  chair  of  Pas- 
toral Theology,  and  Church  government,  at  Prince- 
ton ;  and  when  he  WHS  led  by  "the  earnest  remon- 
strances of  his  own  people,"  seconded  by  those  of  a 
large  number  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Philadelphia, 
to  decline  the  position  proffered  him,  the  assembly 
made  him  moderator.  From  this  point  onward  until 
his  death,  his  life  was  so  la-ge,  and  his  labors  so  va- 
rious, that  the  story  refuses  to  be  compressed  within 


REV.    HENRY  A.    BOARDMAN. 

the  limits  of  a  sermon.  Instead,  therefore,  of  stat- 
ing its  events  in  detail,  I  shall  attempt  briefly  to  de- 
scribe the  man. 

The  remonstrances,  by  means  of  which  he  was  held 
in  this  pulpit,  were  the  result  first,  of  his  fidelity  as 
pastor  of  this  church,  and  secondly,  of  the  distin- 
guished ability  which  he  revealed  as  a  preacher  of  the 
gospel.  In  protesting  against  his  removal,  his  con- 
gregation were  able  to  refer  to  "the  wide-spread  and 
most  important  influence,"  which  he  had  acquired  in 
this  community,  by  "his  commanding  talents  as  a 
preacher  and  writer."  The  high  estimate  to  which 
his  church  thus  gave  expression,  received  an  emphat- 
ic endorsement  from  the  community  itself,  in  a  letter 
addressed  to  him  by  a  large  number  of  his  fellow-cit- 
izens, not  members  of  his  congregation — the  distin- 
guished name  of  Horace  Binney  leading  the  signa- 
tures,— in  which  the  writers  say,  "  we  have  learned 
to  recognise  in  you  not  merely  the  pastor  of  a  single 
congregation,  but  the  dignified  expounder -of  com- 
mercial and  professional  morals,  whose  teachings  and 
whose  personal  character  are  of  public  importance, 
we  feel  that  your  departure  from  Philadelphia  would 
l)e  a  loss  not  easily  repaired  to  the  public  Christian- 
ity of  a  great  commercial  metropolis."  It  was,  no 
doubt,  Mr.  Boardman's  faithfulness  and  ability  as 
pastor  of  a  conspicuous  church,  that  led  the  church  to 
elect  him  to  the  chair  of  Pastoral  Theology  at  Prince- 
ton. 

He  was  above  all  a  preacher  of  the  gospel.  Looking 


REV.    HENRY  A.    BOARDMAN.  211 

back  over  his  ministry  of  forty  years,  he  says  that  he 
began  his  labors  here  with  the  conviction  that  "the 
minister  of  Christ  must  assign  the  same  pre-eminence 
to  the  pulpit,  which  the  New  Testament  accords  to 
it."  On  this  point  his  mind  never  Avavered.  He 
gave  far  more  time  and  thonght  to  his  preparation  for 
preaching,  than  to  pastoral  labor.  He  insisted  on 
the  " paramount  claims  of  the  pulpit,  with  this  qual- 
ification, viz.  :  that  even  the  pulpit  must  yield  to  the 
demands  of  the  sick,  the  desponding,  the  awakened, 
and  the  bereaved."  Though  confessing  that  as  he 
reviewed  his  career,  he  found  much  to  lament,  he 
justifies  his  conduct  in  this  respect.  But  while  he 
regarded  the  influence  of  pastoral  work,  in  the  nar- 
rower sense  of  that  phrase,  as  secondly  to  preaching, 
he  was  faithful  to  the  social  duties  of  his  office  ;  and 
I  am  sure,  that  the  visits  of  no  clergyman  could  have 
been  more  highlv  valued  or  more  thoroughly  enjoyed 
than  his  were  by  the  families  of  his  congregation. 
This  was  true  of  all  his  visits  ;  but  especially  of  those 
in  which  he  met  parishioners,  who,  perplexed  with 
questions  of  duty,  or  suffering  in  spiritual  despon- 
dency, or  bowed  with  affliction,  sought  counsel  or 
consolation  from  thrir  pastor.  His  tenderness  and 
sympathy,  his  profound  Christian  experience,  his  wis- 
dom and  courtesy,  united  to  make  his  visits  memora- 
ble. At  such  times  "  he  did  not  attempt  to  bridge, 
but  leaped  over  the  chasm  between  secularities  and 
spiritualities."  What  memories  I  evoke  by  this  ref- 
erence to  Dr.  Boardman's  pastoral  labors !  With 


212  REV.    HENRY   A.    BOARDMAN. 

what  grace  as  representing,  and  in  the  spirit  of  his 
Master,  "he  poured  the  oil  of  consolation  into  the 
wounded  bosom ! " 

Still,  it  was  as  a  preacher  that  he  excelled.  The 
pulpit  was  the  place  of  his  power.  This  power  was 
the  result  of  exceptional  gifts,  both  of  mind  and  body, 
of  profound  conviction  of  the  truths  to  which  he  gave 
expression,  of  a  vivid  Christian  experience,  and  of 
hard  work.  Every  sermon  that  Dr.  Boardmau 
preached  was  prepared  conscientiously  with  great 
pains.  He  had  no  confidence  "in  momentary  inspir- 
ations," or  in  hastily  written  productions.  He  was 
well  aware  that  power  in  the  pulpit  was  always  the 
result  of  labor  in  the  study.  I  have  been  permitted 
to  read  the  preparatory  outlines  of  some  of  his  dis- 
courses that  I  have  heard  or  read ;  and  I  am  able  to 
say  that  he  exhausted  all  of  his  resources  to  preach 
the  gospel  with  power ;  and  the  power  he  was  most 
anxious  always  to  evince,  was  that,  not  of  exciting 
sensations,  but  of  producing  impressions.  He  aroused, 
not  the  passions,  but  the  emotions.  If  the  sensibili- 
ties were  ever  wrought  upon  by  him,  that  was  by  no 
means  his  aim,  For  in  the  excitement  of  the  sensi- 
bilities, man,  as  he  new,  was  usually  passive.  He 
reached  the  spiritual  emotions  through  the  intellect ; 
and,  as  by  their  incitement,  man  is  always  made 
active,  he  reached  the  icill.  This  was  his  funda- 
mental method.  To  its  execution  he  brought  a 
noble  presence,  a  graceful  manner,  a  voice  of  ex- 
quisite quality  and  flexibility,  and  of  power  more 


REV.    HENRY    A.    BOARDMAN.  213 

than  equal  to  the  demands  of  the  house  in  which  he 
spoke.  Nor  was  this  all.  He  brought  also,  as  we 
have  seen,  an  intellect  finely  endowed,  broadly  cul- 
tivated by  wide  reading,  and  carefully  disciplined 
by  earnest  study.  He  brought  also  an  ardent  love 
of  the  souls  whom  he  addressed,  and  of  the  Master, 
in  whose  name  he  addressed  them,  and  a  conviction 
of  the  supreme  importance  of  his  message,  that  was 
born  of  his  own  experience.  But  all  this  would  have 
failed  to  make  him  the  ureat  preacher,  \vhich  1  do  not 
hesitate  to  affirm  him  to  have  bei-n.  had  he  not  als  > 
brought  ihe  truth,  the  Word  of  God.  1  should  say 
his  love  of  the  truth  was  a  more  distinct,  if  not  a 
more  profound  emotion,  than  even  his  love  of  souls. 
The  truth  was  not  only  the  substance  of  his  preach- 
ing, but  the  factor  which  gave  to  it  its  form.  Thus 
he  was  an  intellectual  rather  than  an  emotional  preach- 
er. He  addressed  his  subject  rather  than  his  people. 
His  published  sermons  are  far  more  ample  in  their 
discursive  than  in  their  hortatory  parts.  He  ex- 
plained and  defended  the  truth ;  he  made  the  truth 
manifest  to  his  conscience  ;  and  for  most  part  left  to 
the  truth,  and  to  the  applying  spirit,  the  work  of  ex- 
hortation and  appeal. 

Dr.  Boardman  was  always  courageous,  and  had  far 
more  respect  for  truth  than  for  a  majority.  Many 
here  may  remember  the  enthusiasm  with  which  Louis 
Kossuth  was  welcomed  twenty-eight  years  since  by  the 
American  people.  The  heartiness  of  this  welcome 
was-  due,  partly  to  the  man's  fervid  eloquence,  partly 


214  REV.    HENRY  A.    BOARDMAN. 

to  Mr.  Webster's  letter  to  Baron  Hulseman,  written 
two  years  before.  Such  was  the  sympathy  of  our 
people  with  Kossuth  and  Hungary,  that  it  required 
no  ordinary  courage  for  one  to  rise  and  ask  the  ques- 
tion:  "Whither  is  all  this  .leading  us?"  This  Dr. 
Boardman  did.  In  an  able  address,  in  which  his  wide 
political  reading  reveals  itself,  he  warns  his  fellow 
citizens  not  to  be  seduced  into  demanding  a  departure 
from  the  conservative  policy  of  non  intervention,  which 
the  fathers  of  the  republic  had  made  the  policy  of  the 
government. 

Dr.  Boardman  was  an  ardent  patriot ;  and  in  two 
addresses,  one  of  them  on  Daniel  Webster,  he  gave 
eloquent  expression  to  his  theory  of  our  government, 
and  his  attachment  to  the  Federal  Union.  That  the- 
ory was  the  view  which  Mr.  Webster  announced  in 
his  reply  to  Mr.  Hayne,  and  which,  three  years  liter, 
he  defended  in  his  more  able,  but  less  widely  known 
argument  called  out  by  the  resolutions  of  Mr.  Cal- 
houn.  Intelligently  accepting  Mr.  Webster's  view 
of  the  powers  of  the  Federal  Government,  and  of  its 
relations  to  the  States,  Dr.  Boardman  during  the  late 
civil  war,  was  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  its  object, 
and  heartily  rejoiced  in  its  final  victory,  by  which 
the  authority  of  the  general  government  was  main- 
tained throughout  the  land.  But  he  mourned  the 
inevitable  desolations  of  the  war,  and  he  disagreed 
with  not  a  few  of  his  warmest  friends,  in  his  view  of 
some  of  the  details  of  its  prosecution.  Differences  of 
opinion  on  political  questions  more  easily  separated 


REV.    HEXRY  A.    BOARDMAN.  215 

friends  in  those  days,  than  happily  they  do  to-day. 
It  was  inevitable  that  Dr.  Boardman  should  feel 
deeply  the  distance  which  these  differences  of  opinion 
placed  between  himself  and  many  of  his  friends.  But 
he  would  not  have  been  the  lofty  man  who  comman- 
ded your  respect  and  won  your  confidence,  and  en- 
gaged your  affections,  had  he  adopted  views  because 
he  supposed  them  popular.  Whatever  faults  he  had, 
this  certainly  was  not  one  of  them.  He  was  nothing, 
if  not  moral \y  brave. 

Dr.  Boardman's  interest  in  the  well-being  of  his 
fellow  men  revealed  itself  in  his  intelligent  efforts  to 
widen  the  usefulness  of  many  of  the  charitable  insti- 
tutions which  honor  our  city.  With  one  of  these,  the 
Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution,  he  was  closely  connected  ; 
but  he  was  deeply,  and  as  far  as  possible,  actively  in- 
terested in  every  form  of  benevolence.  I  happen  to 
know  that  he  thought  much,  and  read  widely,  and  felt 
deeply  on  this  great  subject.  The  question  whether 
the  churches  of  the  reformation  have  not  employed 
themselves  too  exclusively  with  spiritual  subjects,  and 
whether  they  should  not,  besides  stimulating  benev- 
olent activity,  conduct  benevolent  institutions,  he  pon- 
dered deeply.  He  so  far  answered  it,  as  heartily  to 
rejoice  in  the  founding  in  our  city,  and  in  connection 
with  our  own  church,  of  the  Home,  the  Orphanage, 
and  the  Hospital. 

I  should  be  unjust  both  to  his  memory  and  to  my 
own  feelings,  if  I  failed  to  give  expression  to  my  pro- 
found gratitude  that  in  the  providence  of  God,  1  was 


216  REV.    HENRY   A.    BOARDMAN. 

permitted  to  be  associated  in  labor  \\ith  so  noble  and 
able  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  He  cordially  welcom- 
ed me  to  the  pulpit  which  his  distinguished  pastorate 
had  made  eminent.  He  was  untiring  in  his  endeav- 
ors to  make  his  friends  my  friends,  His  mature  wis- 
dom \vas  at  my  disposal,  but  only  as  I  sought  it ;  and 
he  was  only  too  fearful  lest,  by  expressing  his  opin- 
ions, he  might  seem  to  proffer  advice.  Whatever  ser- 
vice I  asked  of  him  he  rendered  joyfully,  1  may  al- 
most say,  gratefully.  He  re-igned  his  authority  as 
pastor  of  this  church,  just  before  I  was  called ;  but 
though  he  resigned  his  authority,  his  influence  he 
could  not  re-sign.  Thus  he  remained  among  you,  vis- 
iting the  sick,  preaching  from  time  to  time,  often  with 
a  power  that  recalled  the  days  of  his  vigorous  manhood  ; 
the  pastor  of  this  church,  until  God  called  him  home. 
He  died  on  the  loth,  day  of  June,  1879.  His  ill- 
ness was  brief  and  his  death  unexpected.  The  last 
time  I  saw  him  I  saw  him  in  this  church.  The  niece 
of  one  of  the  elders  who  had  welcomed  him  to  Phila- 
delphia had  died,  and  the  funeral  services,  held  in  the 
church,  had  begun,  when  he  entered  the  door  and 
walked  to  the  pulpit.  He  had  come  from  Atlantic  ci- 
ty to  be  present  at  the  funeral  of  his  intimate  and  val- 
ued friend.  He  spoke  briefly  of  her  beautiful  christ- 
ian  character,  and  then,  with  great  tenderness,  of 
"our  Father's  house  of  many  mansions,"  and  led  us  in 
prayer.  Two  weeks  later  he  finished  his  earthly  life, 
and  was  admitted  to  "our  Father's  house"  "the  house 
not  made  with  haud&,  eternal  ia  -tko 


CHAPTER   X. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF   ANDREW  L.  STONE, 
D.  D.,  CONGREGATIONALISM 


I  WAS  BORN  in  the  town  of  Oxford,  New  Haven 
County,  State  of  Connecticut,  Nov.  25,  1815.  My 
father  was  a  physician  who  had  been  settled  for  many 
years  in  the  town,  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
There  were  four  children  of  us,  all  of  whom  have  been 
somewhat  addicted  to  the  use  of  the  pen.  My  eldest 
sister,  Mrs.  E.  N.  Horton,  has  written  several  books 
for  young  readers.  The  next,  Mrs.  M.  S.  Hubbell, 
was  the  authoress  of  "Shady  Side."  My  younger 
brother,  D.  M.  Stone,  is  the  editor  of  the  Journal  of 
Commerce. 

My  school-boy  days  were  passed  in  my  native  vil- 
lage until  the  exigencies  of  fitting  for  college  took  me 
to  Les's  Academy,  Madisou,  Cfc,  and  later,  to  Derby 
iu.  the  same  state. 


218  REV.    ANDREW   L.    STONE. 

I  enjoyed  vigorous  health  through  my  boyhood  and 
was  an  expert  in  boyish  sports,  and  almost  as  much 
at  home  in  the  water  as  a  young  dolphin.  Specially 
fond  of  the  horse,  of  his  use  and  of  his  care — a  taste 
that  has  followed  me  through  life. 

I  entered  Yale  college  in  1833  and  graduated  with 
my  class  in  1837.  For  two  of  my  college  years  my 
room-mate  was  Rev.  A.  L.  Chapin,  D.  D.,  now  pres- 
ident of  Bel  oit  college.  I  was  specially  fond  of  Me 
classics  in  my  college  studies,  rather  than  of  mathe- 
matics, and  took  some  prizes  for  English  composition. 
I  gave  some  attention  also  to  music  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  college  choir  through  the  four  years,  sing- 
ing bass.  I  had  the  appointment  of  an  "Oration"  at 
graduation,  as  also  the  year  before  at  our  "Junior 
Exhibition,"  on  which  occasion  also  1  wrote  a  tragedy 
which  was  acted  before  the  public  audience.  On  the 
occasion  of  my  graduation  I  prepared  also  a  tragic 
fragment  for  three  actors,  entitled  "The  Roman  Mar- 
tyr." 

After  graduation  although  designing  to  study  for 
the  ministry,  I  found  myself  under  the  necessity  of 
teaching  for  awhile,  that  I  might  discharge  the  debts 
incurred  in  my  college  course. 

I  have  not  said  what  I  will  say  here,  that  I  became 
personally  interested  in  the  subject  of  religion,  and  I 
hope  truly  converted  in  a  revival  of  religion  occuring 
in  Madison  while  I  was  pursuing  my  preparatory  stu- 
dies, and  my  first  union  with  the  church  of  Christ 
was  with  the  Congregational  church  of  that  town  under 


KEY.    ANDREW  L.    STONE.  219 

the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Samuel  Shepherd.  My 
spiritual  life  was  quickened  and  strengthened  by  a 
powerful  revival  in  college  in  1835-6,  in  which  some 
seventy  or  eighty  students  were  brought  to  Christ  and 
in  which  my  purpose  to  become  a  preacher  of  the  gos- 
pel was  confirmed.  Such  a  purpose  had  from  the  be- 
ginning been  the  hope  of  my  dear  parents,  who  con- 
secrated me  at  birth  to  the  service  of  the  Master. 

My  first  year  out  of  college  I  spent  in  Uxbridge, 
Mass.,  teaching  an  academy  there,  without  very  much 
pecuniary  success. 

I  then  entered  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution  in 
the  city  of  New  York  as  a  professor  of  the  sign  lan- 
guage, and  remained  in  that  situation  for  three  years, 
during  which  time  1  also  studied  for  the  ministry  in 
connection  with  the  New  York  Theological  Seminary, 
and  in  fellowship  with  my  dear  friend,  room-mate  and 
fellow-professor,  A.  L.  Chapin,  now  president  of 
Elicit  college. 

At  the  close  of  my  third  year  in  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb  Institution,  I  received  a  call  to  act  as  secreta- 
ry of  the  Philadelphia  Sunday  School  Union,  an  or- 
ganization to  extend  the  benefits  of  Sunday  school  in- 
struction to  all  the  children  and  youth  of  the  city,  and 
to  stimulate  the  zeal  and  heighten  the  effectiveness  of 
all  engaged  in  the  Sunday  school  work.  This  fellow- 
ship in  labor  with  such  associates  was  exceedingly 
pleasant  to  me,  and  I  look  back  to  it  as  a  zone  of 
brightness  across  the  path  of  the  past.  I  had  the 
pleasure,  when  uot  otherwise  engaged  oa  the  sa.bbath 


REV.    ANDREW   L.    STONE. 

of  sitting  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Dr.  Bethune, 
the  memorial  of  whose  earnest  spirit  and  eloquent 
words,  is  with  me  still. 

In  July  of  1842,  I  was  joined  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Matilda  B.  Fisher,  daughter  of  Abijah  Fisher,  the 
head  of  a  prominent  mercantile  house  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  Six  children,  three  of  either  sex,  have 
been  the  issue  of  this  union,  four  ot  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing. Three  of  them  have  families  of  their  own,  and 
are  settled  near  us,  in  this  city  and  vicinity  ;  and  one 
the  youngest,  gladdens  onr  home  as  yet  with  her  hap- 
py presence. 

In  the  summer  of  1844,  I  visited  the  South  church, 
Middletown,  Ct.,  in  behalf  of  the  Sunday  school 
cause.  The  pastor,  Rev.  Arthur  Granger,  was  just 
about  taking  leave  of  the  church,  and  I  soon  receiv- 
ed a  call  to  the  vacant  pulpit,  which  I  accepted  and 
was  installed,  Sept.  3,  and  exercised  the  ministry 
there  for  some  five  years  in  the  midst  of  the  most 
harmonious,  affectionate  and  faithful  people.  From 
Middletown  I  was  called  to  the  Park  Street  Church, 
Boston,  and  became  pastor  of  that  ancient  and  honor- 
ed church  in  January,  1849. 

Of  my  ministry  in  Boston,  I  need  not  speak  in  de- 
tail. They  were  to  me  seventeen  happy,  privileged 
years  which  I  spent  with  that  people.  Other  lips 
must  bear  testimony  to  their  fruitfulness  and  useful- 
ness. But  no  earthly  changes  can  dull  the  memory 
of  the  affectionate  and  sympathetic  relations  subsist- 
ing between  pastor  and  people  through  all  this  peri- 


REV.    ANDREW   L.    STONE. 

(5d.  During  this  pastorate  came  that  great  tragic 
struggle  that  severed  the  nation  asunder  for  a  sea- 
son, over  the  decisive  question  of  American  Slavery. 
The  pulpit  of  that  church  spoke  out  clearly  and  de- 
cisively, and  when  the  issue  became  one  of  arms  to 
be  decided  under  God,  on  the  battlefield,  I  went  as 
Chaplain  with  the  45th  "Cadet"  regiment  of  Massa- 
chusetts, for  a  year's  service  in  the  open  field,  and  al- 
though I  entered  into  action  with  the  regiment  five 
times,  and  shared  all  their  peril  I  was  preserved  with- 
out a  wound. 

My  first  call  to  the  First  Congregational  Church  of 
San  Francisco  reached  me  a  year  before  my  transi- 
tion. A  large,  influential  council,  assembled  at  Bos- 
ton to  advise  me,  in  reference  to  the  question,  advis- 
ed my  stay  in  New  England.  A  year  later  the  call 
was  more  urgently  renewed,  and  with  the  fresh  light 
I  had  gathered  upon  the  subject,  it  seemed  to  me  my 
duty  to  go.  The  palling  with  my  dear  people  of 
Park  Street  was  to  me  almost  like  the  sundering  of 
soul  and  body,  but  my  conviction  of  God's  will  in 
reference  to  my  going  was  imperative. 

I  preached  my  first  sermon  in  San  Francisco  in 
Marcji,  1866,  and  was  regularly  installed  over  the 
church  in  the  June  following.  I  found  my  new  home 
rather  a  peculiar  field  for  evangelic  labor.  The  first 
annual  generations  of  California  life  were  chiefly  mis- 
sionaries of  worldly  enterprise.  Each  little  commu- 
nity, and  the  larger  of  course,  represented  almost  ev- 
ery type  of  humanity  the  broad  earth  over.  Ques- 


222  REV.    ANDREW  L.    STONE. 

tions  of  rewarding  enterpise,  the  excitement  of  new 
discoveries  in  the  fields  of  the  precious  metals,  and 
the  haste  to  be  rich  and  to  return  to  the  older  homes, 
to  enjoy  the  sudden  prosperity  of  the  golden  harvests, 
occupied  all  minds  and  hearts,  and  kept  them  in  a 
perpetual  whirl  of  motion.  Still,  the  Gospel  made 
itself  heard  ;  municipal  and  Christian  society  became 
rooted  facts ;  new  settlements  grew  into  permanent 
homes  ;  and  the  churches  of  California  feel  that  the 
future  of  her  population,  in  Christian  institutions  and 
in  personal  character,  depends  on  their  vigor  and  fi- 
delity. 

The  church  of  which  I  am  pastor  has  once  removed 
its  local  ion  and  rebuilt  its  walls  since  I  came  to  the 
city ;  and  occupies  now,  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  one 
of  the  most  spacious,  beautiful  and  commodious  hous- 
es of  public  worship  in  San  Francisco.  The  congre- 
gation is  large,  and  the  church  active  and  devoted  in 
the  service  of  the  Master,  and  in  all  departments  of 
evangelic  witnessing  and  working. 

A  year  or  two  ago  my  health  faltered  a  little,  and 
my  people  relieved  me  by  associating  with  me  a  col- 
league who  took  upon  himself  half  the  work.  My 
health  has  improved  and  I  am  now  alone  again  in  the 
full  charge  of  the  parish.  I  preach  however  but  once 
upon  the  sabbath.  The  second  service  called  a  "ves- 
per service"  is  chiefly  a  service  of  song  grouped  about 
a  special  theme,  upon  which  the  pastor  makes  a  brief 
unwritten  address. 

Our  city  is  growing  rapidly,  having  more  than 


REV.    ANDREW  L.   STONE.  223 

doubled  its  population  since  I  came  to  it,  thirteen 
years  ago,  and  presents  one  of  the  most  interesting 
fields  for  energetic  Christian  labor  and  all  the  func- 
tions of  pastoral  fidelity  to  be  found  under  the  flag  of 
our  common  country. 

Rev.  Dr.  Stone  in  his  sketch  in  the  foregoing  auto- 
biography has  not  spoken  particularly  of  his  seven- 
teen year's  pastorate  of  Park  Street  Church  in  Bos- 
ton. That  ministry  was  a  success.  When  he  came 
to  Park  Street  Church,  it  was  nearly  empty.  Rev. 
Silas  Aiken,  D.  D.,  was  his  immediate  proceeding  pas- 
tor, one  of  the  best  pastors  Boston  has  ever  had  ;  and 
as  good  when  he  was  dismissed  by  that  church  as 
he  was  when  he  commenced  his  ministry  among  them. 
Rev.  Edward  N.  Kirk,  then  an  Evangelist,  had  been 
permitted  to  preach  to  Dr.  Aiken's  people  ;  and  when 
he  left  carried  away  with  him  a  considerable  part  of 
the  church  and  two  or  three  of  the  most  prominent 
deacons. 

They  were  organized  into  Mount  Vernon  church. 

By  this  movement  the  Park  Street  church  became 
so  weakened,  that  it  was  unable  to  support  Dr.  Aik- 
en, and  he  was  dismissed.  It  was  a  cruel  blow  to 
that  good  man. 

After  having  candidated  for  a  considerable  time, 
they  called  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stone.  He  was  young, 
strong,  eloquent  and  popular.  He  was  fully  up  to 
the  times  both  on  the  temperance  and  anti-slavery 
questions ;  and  so  thoroughly  did  he  exhibit  them 
that  some  of  the  old  conservative  members  who  hated 


224  EEV.    ANDREW  L.    STONE. 

Abolitionism  and  who  loved  a  little  wine  especially 
with  their  dinners  grew  somewhat  restless  under  his 
faithful  preaching  upon  these  subjects.  Near  the 
close  of  his  first  year's  pastorate,  whisperings  were 
heard  among  them  about  a  change  of  ministers  but  in 
his  first  anniversary  sermon,  Dr.  Stone  settled  this 
matter  decisively.  He  took  the  high  gospel 
ground  on  both  these  subjects.  This  proceeding  on 
this  occasion  reminded  us  of  the  following  declara- 
tion of  David  to  wit,  "if  this  be  to  be  vile  I  will  be 
more  vile  still."  Some  few  of  the  old  settlers  left,  but 
ten  came  where  one  departed ;  and  for  sixteen  years 
after,  Dr.  Stone  was  one  of  the  most  faithful,  success- 
ful, and  popular  pastors  that  has  ever  filled  a  Boston 
pulpit.  He  received  two  urgent  calls  across  the  con- 
tinent, and  Avhen  he  concluded  to  remove  to  San 
Francisco,  it  was  univeraally  regretted  by  his  people. 
His  sermons  were  thorough,  sound,  and  well  written. 
They  were  delivered  in  an  eloquent,  fearless,  touch- 
ing, kind,  and  symphathising  manner,  and  during  his 
ministry  large  accessions  were  made  to  the  church. 

His  decision,  also,  appeared  in  admitting  President 
Finney  to  his  pulpit,  at  a  time  when  some  of  the  oth- 
er pastors  of  Boston  were  opposed  not  to  Evangelists 
only,  but  also  to  some  of  Mr.  Finney's  doctrines.  They 
would  not  admit  him  to  their  pulpits.  Dr.  Stone  be- 
lieved Finney  to  be  a  devoted  and  successful  minister  of 
Jesus  Christ,  and  hence,  at  the  expense  of  his  popularity, 
gave  him  the  freedom  of  his  pulpit  and  aided  the  Evan- 
gelist in  accomplishing  a  good  work  of  grace  in  Boston. 


REV.    CHARLES   G.    FINNEY. 

But  Dr.  Stone's  decision  was  by  no  means  the  most 
prominent  of  his  virtues,  though  under  the  circum- 
stances, it  was  highly  commendable.  Pie  was  devot- 
edly pious.  He  preached,  not  fearlessly  only,  but 
also  piously.  His  zeal  was  ever  tempered  with 
knowledge,  and  he  left  the  east  to  labor  in  the  west, 
with  the  blessings  and  prayers  of  many  Christians  for 
his  personal  welfare,  and  his  great  success  in  his  new 
and  larger  field  of  labor.  He  will  ever  be  remember- 
ed as  a  brother  beloved,  by  the  ministers  of  Boston, 
and  by  many  sons  and  daughters  of  the  Lord,  as  their 
adviser  and  spiritual  father.  Long  may  he  live  to  do 
good  in  the  Lord's  vineyard. 


REV.    CHARLES   G.   FINNEY,    CONGRE- 
GATLJNALIST. 


CHARLES  G.  FINNEY  was  born  in  Warren,  Litchfield 
County,  Conn.,  August  29,  1792.  When  he  was 
about  two  years  old,  his  father  removed  to  Oneida 
County,  N.  Y.,  which  was  then  almost  a  wilderness. 
He  enjoyed  no  religious  privileges,  and  there  was  but 
very  little  preaching  among  the  few  settlers.  He  en- 
joyed the  privileges  of  a  common  school  and  improved 
them  so  far  as  to  be  capable  of  teaching  such  a  school. 

Neither  of  his  parents  were  professors  of  religion, 
and  among  his  neighbors  there  were  very  few  religious 
people.  There  were  travelling  ministers  who  held 


226  REV.    CHARLES   G.    FINNEY. 

forth  occasionally,  but  the  people  were  not  much  wiser 
for  their  preaching. 

Soon  after  they  had  built  a  meeting  house  in  Onei- 
da  County,  his  father  removed  again  into  the  wilder- 
ness, a  little  south  of  Sacketts  Harbor,  near  Lake 
Ontario.  But  here  he  enjoyed  no  better  religious 
privileges  than  at  his  former  residence. 

When  he  was  twenty  years  old,  he  returned  to 
Connecticut,  and  soon  went  to  New  Jersey,  near  New 
York  city,  and  taught  school.  After  teaching  awhile 
he  returned  to  New  England  and  attended  a  high 
school. 

At  this  time  he  thought  of  going  to  Yale  College  ; 
but  though  his  teacher  was  a  graduate  of  Yalo,  yet  he 
advised  young  Finney  not  to  go,  as  it  would  be  lost 
time.  This  bad  advice  prevailed  and  he  left  his  stud- 
ies soon  after.  He,  however,  afterwards  acquired 
some  knowledge  of  Latin,  Greek  and  Hebrew,  but 
he  says,  "I  was  never  a  classical  scholar." 

With  the  teacher  here  referred  to,  he  contemplated 
going  south  and  opening  an  academy  ;  but  his  parents 
hearing  of  it  came  after  him,  and  prevailed  with  him 
to  return  with  them  to  Jetferson  County,  N.  Y. 

Soon  after  this  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  law. 
This  was  in  1818. 

He  says  :  "  Up  to  this  time  I  had  never  enjoyed  re- 
ligious privileges.  I  had  never  lived  in  a  praying 
community,  except  during  the  periods  when  [  was  at- 
tending the  high  school  in  New  England, — the  preach- 
ing was  by  an  aged  clergyman,  an  excellent  man,  and 


REV.    CHARLES   G,    FINNEY.  227 

greatly  beloved  by  his  people ;  but  he  read  his  ser- 
mons in  a  manner  that  left  no  impression  on  my 
mind." 

He  says  :  "  When  he  commenced  studying  law,  he 
was  almost  as  ignorant  of  religion  as  a  heathen."  He 
says,  "in  studying  law  I  found  the  old  authors  fre- 
quently quoting  the  Scriptures,  and  referring,  espe- 
cially to  the  Mosaic  institutes,  as  authority  for  many 
of  the  great  principles  of  common  law.  This  so  excited 
my  curiosity  that  I  went  and  purchased  a  Bible,  the 
first  I  ever  owned  :  and  whenever  I  found  a  reference 
by  the  law  authors  to  the  Bible,  I  turned  to  the  pass- 
age and  consulted  it  in  its  connection.  This  soon  led 
to  my  taking  a  new  interest  in  the  Bible." 

About  this  time  he  was  greatly  troubled  about  such 
promises  as  these:  "Ask  and  ye  shall  receive," 
"Knock  and  it  shall  be  opened,"  etc.,  for  Christians 
kept  asking  for  a  revival  and  did  not  receive  it.  This 
was  inexplicable. 

After  his  conversion  he  found  that  this  failure  of 
receiving  was  to  be  wholly  ascribed  to  the  fact  that 
Christians  did  not  believe  with  the  heart  what  God 
has  said.  He  immediately  commenced  his  work. 

Soon  after  Mr.  W had  left  the  office  Deacon  B 

came  into  the  office  and  said  to  me,  "Mr.  Finney,  do 
you  recollect  that  my  cause  is  to  be  tried  at  ten  o'clock 
this  morning?  1  suppose  you  are  ready?"  I  had 
been  retained  to  attend  this  suit  as  his  attorney.  I 

replied  to  him,  "Deacon  B ,  I  have  a  retainer 

from  the  Lor£  Jesus  Cbi'ist  to  plead  his  cause,  and  I 


REV.    CHARLES    G.    FINNEY. 

cannot  plead  yours."  He  looked  at  me  with  aston- 
ishment, and  said,  "  What  do  you  mean  ?"  I  told  him 
in  a  few  words,  that  I  had  enlisted  in  the  cause  of 
Christ :  and  then  repeated  that  I  had  a  retainer  from 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  plead  his  cause,  and  that  he 
must  go  and  uet  somebody  else  to  attend  his  lawsuit; 
I  could  not  do  it.  He  dropped  his  head,  and  with- 
out making  any  reply,  went  out.  A  few  moments 
later,  in  passing  the  window,  I  observed  that  Deacon 

B was  standing  in  the  road,   seemingly  lost  in 

deep  meditation.  He  went  away,  as  I  afterwards 
learned,  and  immediately  settled  his  suit.  He  then 
betook  himself  to  prayer  and  soon  got  into  a  much 
higher  religious  state  than  he  had  ever  been  in  before. 
I  soon  sallied  forth  from  the  office  to  converse  with 
those  whom  I  should  meet  about  their  souls.  I  had 
the  impression,  which  has  never  left  my  mind,  that 
God  wanted  me  to  preach  the  gospel ,  and  that  I  must 
begin  immediately.  I  somehow  seemed  to  know  it. 
I  cannot  tell  how  I  knew  it,  any  more  than  I  can  tell 
how  I  knew  that  it  was  the  love  of  God  and  the 
baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost  which  I  had  received.  I 
did  somehow  know  it  with  a  certainty  that  was  past 
all  possibility  of  doubt.  And  so  I  seemed  to  know 
that  the  Lord  commissioned  me  to  preach  the  gospel. 
Mr.  Finney  appears  to  have  been  fully  satisfied  of  a 
"call"  to  preach  the  gospel.  His  general  education 
had  been  cramped,  his  legal  studies  but  brief,  and  his 
labors  in  the  law  comparatively  nothing.  He  com- 
menced preaching  with  a  naturally  strong,  but  uncul- 


REV.    CHARLES  G.    FINNEY.  229 

tivated  mind.  He  had  a  strong  and  vigorous  body, 
and  his  whole  soul-  was  engaged  in  his  work,  and, 
taking  into  account  his  whole  life  and  what  he  accom- 
plished, presents  a  fair  specimen  of  what  a  man 
can  do  when  he  throws  his  whole  soul  and  all  his 
energies  into  his  work. 

In  his  early  preaching  and  revivals,  he  was  crude 
in  his  expressions,  sometimes  rude  in  his  manners, 
with  little  respect  for  the  feelings  and  opinions  of 
others,  and  denunciatory  in  what  he  had  to  say  of 
them.  It  is  reported  that  at  this  early  period  of  his 
ministry,  a  good  old  lady,  having  heard  him  for  the 
iirst  time,  said,  "what  is  the  matter  with  the  minister 
that  he  swears  so  ?" 

He  had  been  what  is  generally  called  "a  hard  case." 

He  had  criticised  the  prayer,  the  preaching  and  the 
lives  of  church  members  and  ministers,  and  it  is  sad 
to  confess  that  he  found  quite  too  much  in  them  to 
employ  his  talents  in  this  way. 

After  his  conversion  and  baptism  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  the  whole  current  of  his  conversation  and  con- 
duct was  changed ;  and  beyond  a  doubt,  his  labors 
were  greatly  blessed  to  the  building  up  of  the  church. 

It  may  be  well  to  give  the  opinion  of  some  of  the 
pastors  of  the  churches  in  the  region  of  Mr.  Finney's 
early  labors.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Aiken,  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Utica,  says, 

r'Rev.  Mr.  Finney  came  to  Utica ;  and,  as  in  other 
places,  his  plain,  and  pungent,  and  f-iithful  preaching 
was  attended  with  evident  and  wonderful  success. 


230  REV.    CHARLES   G.    FINNEY. 

Christians  were  told  ot  their  departures  from 
God,  their  backslidings  in  heart,  their  lukewarmness 
their  love  of  the  world  and  conformity  to  it,  and  of 
the  necessity  of  a  broken  spirit,  of  deep  thorough  re- 
pentence,  before  they  could  reasonably  expect  a  gen- 
eral revival  of  religion.  It  was  not  long  before  the 
work  became  powerful.  Places  of  worship  were 
thronged ;  and  the  stillness  of  the  sepulchre  reigned, 
broken  occasionally  by  a  deep  sigh  from  some  heart 
that  was  writhing  under  the  condemning  influence  of 
divine  truth.  Instead  of  noise  and  confusion,  the 
meetings  were  solemn,  and  sometimes  awfully  so,  by 
the  presence  of  God,  which  made  sinners  afraid,  and 
Christians  humble  and  still.  True,  there  has  been 
noise  ;  there  h;is  been  no  small  stir  about  these  things  ; 
but  it  has  been  on  the  other  side — among  the  enemies 
of  the  revival,  as  it  was  in  the  days  of  the  apostles. 

"  The  general  features  of  this  revival  are  the  same 
as  have  always  marked  every  genuine  outpouring  of 
the  spirit  since  the  apostolic  age.  I  shall,  there- 
fore, not  repeat  them  ;  but  would  here  observe  that 
it  has  been  confined  to  no  particular  class  in  the  com- 
munity. Its  sweet  and  saving  influence  has  fallen 
upon  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the1  ignorant  and  the 
learned,  and  moulded  into  its  own  lovely  image,  as 
we  humbly  trust,  the  proud  moralist  and  the  polluted 
debauchee.  It  has  made  'new  creatures'  of  gamblers 
and  drunkards  and  swearers  and  sabbath  breakers, 
and  brought  the  self-righteous  pharisee,  the  deluded 
skeptic,  deist  and  univer&alist,  to  abandon  their  dreams 


REV.    CHARLES    G.    FIXNEY.  231 

of  happiness  and  heaven  without  a  holy  heart,  and  to 
fly  for  cleansing  to  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  The 
'probable  number  of  converts  in  Utica  is  about  five 
hundred.'  The  number  of  hopeful  converts  in  a  pop- 
ulation like  this,  it  is  not  easy  definitely  to  ascertain. 
Not  far  from  sixty  persons,  some  of  whom  were  trav- 
ellers, who  turned  in  to  tarry  but  fur  a  night,  or  day, 
or  week  ;  others  belonging  to  the  towns  around  ex- 
perienced, as  we  trust,  the  grace  of  God.  More  than 
a  hundred,  the  subjects  of  the  revival,  have  united 
with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church ;  numbers  with 
the  Methodist  and  Baptist,  the  Second  Presbyterian 
and  "Welsh  Congregational  churches.  Many  children 
from  seven  to  thirteen  years  of  age  give  evidence  of 
piety.  Nor  has  this  good  work  of  the  Lord  ceased. 
'Ihe  spirit  of  prayer  still  continues,  though  in  a  less 
degree ;  and  consequently  conversions  are  less  fre- 
quent than  they  were  last  winter.  Scarcely  a  week 
has  passed  during  the  last  summer,  when  one  or  more 
has  not  been  brought  into  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  For 
the  last  six  weeks,  twenty  have  hopefully  experienced 
the  grace  of  God. 

"Besides  Mr.  Finney,  who  has  been  signally  owned 
and  blessed  important  services  have  been  rendered 
by  the  Rev.  D.  Nash,  Mr.  N.  Smith  and  other  breth- 
ren in  the  ministry,  who  are  remembered  with  grat- 
itude both  by  the  church  and  their  pastor. 

"With  regard  to  the  means  used  in  this  revival,  I 
should  say  nothing,  were  it  not  for  the  gross  misrep- 
resentations that  have  gone  abroad.  They  are  sub- 


232  REV.    CHARLES    G.    FINNEY. 

stantially  the  same  as  were  employed  by  Whitefield, 
Edwards,  Brainard,  and  by  some  still  living,  whose 
praise  is  in  all  the  churches.  The  grand  means,  and 
that  into  which  all  others  are  resolved,  has  been  the 
Word  of  God  ;  the  doctrines  of  salvation  ;  the  deprav- 
ity of  the  heart,  consisting  not  merely  in  the  nega- 
tive want  of  love  to  God,  but  in  positive  hatred  to 
Him ;  the  law  of  God,  its  extent,  purity,  perfection 
and  binding  influence ;  the  sovereignty  of  God,  illus- 
trated and  enforced,  not  so  much  by  abstract  reason- 
ing as  by  matters  of  fact ;  the  nature  and  necessity  of 
regeneration  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  justification  by 
faith  alone, — these  truths  have  been  preached  con- 
stantly, both  in  the  pulpit  and  out  of  it.  Nor  have 
we  failed  to  urge  sinners  to  repent  and  submit  to 
Jesus  Christ,  and  immediately,  as  the  only  condition 
of  forgiveness,  warning  them  at  the  same  time,  that, 
so  long  as  they  refused  to  comply,  all  their  tears  and 
prayers  and  efforts  are  not  only  vain  but  sinful. 

"Believing  it  to  be  duty  to  use  every  lawful  and 
proper  measure  to  render  effectual  divine  truth,  we 
have,  and  we  trust  in  humble  dependence  on  God, 
visited  from  house  to  house,  conversing  freely  with 
individuals,  and  fearlessly  declared  the  truths  in  the 
street,  in  the  grocery,  the  counting-room,  and  private 
dwelling.  We  have  also  had  various  small  circles 
for  prayer,  as  well  as  stated  and  public  meetings; 
and  in  the  former,  females  in  some  cases,  though 
more  seldom  than  we  could  wish  have  taken  a  part. 
Never  in  the  same  space  of  time,  I  am  confident,  was 


REV,    CHARLES    G.    FESTNEY.  233 

the  Bible  so  much  read  in  Utiea,  as  it  has  been  for 
twelve  months  past.  Be  .-ides  these  means,  discipline, 
meetings  of  inquiry,  d;iys  of  fasting  and  prayer,  and 
conference  meetings  for  the  church,  have  been  very 
useful. 

"Never  was  so  large  a  church  more  happily  united 
than  we  have  been  during  the  revival ;  and  it  is  so 
still.  I  verily  believe  there  is  here  the  unity  of  the 
Spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace.  Some  few  individuals 
may  have  differed  from  their  brethren  with  regard 
to  the  propriety  of  some  measures ;  but  I  have  seen 
none  who  were  blind  to  the  mighty  hand  of  God  that 
was  bowing  down  rebel  sinners  on  every  side,  and 
none  so  hardened  in  unbelief  as  not  to  adore  and 
rejoice  in  it." 

Such  is  the  representation  of  this  revival  by  one  of 
the  wisest  and  most  judicious  pastors  of  the  presby- 
terian  church  of  that  day. 

My  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Finncy  commenced  at 
the  protracted  meeting  in  Providence,  reference  to 
which  maybe  seen  in  the  "Recollections  of 'Ye  Olden 
Tims,'"  or  the  first  volume  of  these  biographies,  pages 
220-221. 

In  a  book  entitled,  "Evangelists  of  the  Church," 
written  by  Rev.  P.  C.  Headley.  and  published  by 
Henry  Hoyt,  I  find  the  following : 

"While  Mr.  Finney  was  in  Providence,  before  his 
first  visit  to  Boston,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wisner,  of  the  Old 
South,  was  sent  there  by  his  brethren  to  hear  the 
evangelist  and  report.  He  did  not  make  himself 


234  REV.    CHARLES   G.    FINNEY. 

known  till  he  had  heard  three  sermons.  He  then 
went  to  Mr.  Finney,  and  said  to  him,  'I  came  here 
a  heresy-hunter ;  but  here  is  my  hand  ;  and  rny  heart 
is  with  you."' 

This  statement  is  apocryphal,  all  except  the  facts 
that  Dr.  Wisner  and  Mr.  Finney,  both  attended 
that  meeting.  Rev.  Mr.  Maltby,  of  Bangor, 
preached  the  first  sermon,  and  I  preached  the  second. 
Dr.  Wisner  was  invited  to  attend  the  meeting,  as  the 
rest  of  us  were.  Mr.  Finney  was  not  invited  by  the 
church,  nor  was  he  expected  to  be  there  ;  but  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  church  was  in  New  York,  where 
Mr.  Finney  then  WHS,  and  he  went  to  Mr.  Finney 
and  told  him  of  the  meeting,  and  importuned  him  to 
come  on  and  attend  it.  Mr.  Finm>y  -came  the  morn- 
ing after  the  meeting  commenced.  Dr.  Wisner  was 
then  on  the  ground.  He  had  no  knowledge  that  Mr. 

O  O 

Finney  was  to  be  there.  He  did  not  hide  himself 
till  he  had  heard  three  sermons.  He  did  say  to  Mr. 
Finney,  "  1  don't  find  any  heresy  in  your  preaching." 
He  was  very  much  pleased  with  it,  and  did  come 
home  and  m.-tke  so  favorable  a  report,  that  most  of 
the  pastors  of  the  congregational  churches  of  Boston, 
joined  in  a  request  that  Mr.  Finney  would  come  to 
Boston.  He  did  come  and  remained  some  months, 
and  many  souls  were  converted  while  he  remained. 

At  the  meeting  in  Providence,  Mr.  Finney  happily 
disappoii  ted  us  all.  We  were  all  Ne\v  England  min- 
isters. We  were  nearly  all  what  was  called  "  Old 
School."  We  had  hoard  of  Mr.  Finney  in  the  state  of 


REV.    CHARLES   G.   FINNEY.  235 

New  York,  of  the  fault  found  by  some,  of  his  doc- 
trine, and  more  especially  of  his  measures  ;  and,  per- 
haps, it  would  not  be  too  much  to  say,  we  were  look- 
ing out  for  peculiar  doctrines  and  singular  measures, 
never  were  men  better  pleased  with  any  preaching 
than  we  all  were  with  Mr.  Finney.  Old  Mr.  Wil- 
son, the  pastor  of  the  Beneficent  church,  where  the 
meeting  was  held,  said,  "I  have  heard  Whitefield 
preach,  but  I  do  not  think  he  was  a  greater  preacher 
than  this  man."  Rev,  Dr.  Daniel  Dow,  of  Thompson, 
Conn.,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  East  Windsor  Sem- 
inary, found  no  fault  with  Mr.  Finney's  doctrine.  It 
was  one  perfect  ovation  of  commendation.  I  know 
that  Dr.  \Visner  was  greatly  pleased,  for  he  so  ex- 
pressed himself  to  me  personally.  I  know,  also,  that 
he  was  on  the  ground  before  I  preached,  for  he  made 
remarks  upon  my  sermon  which  I  remember  to  this 
day,  though  fifty  years  have  since  elapsed,  and  I 
know,  also,  that  he  did  not  know  that  Mr.  Finney 
was  to  be  there,  for,  no  one  present  knew  it  till  he 
came  in.  We  were  as  much  surprised  to  see  him,  as 
Ahab  was  to  meet  Elijah,  after  he  hud  been  searching 
everywhere  for  him. 

Mr.  Finney'spreachingwasmzson/m;.  He  preached 
from  the  text,  "  There  is  one  God,  and  one  mediator 
between  God  and  men,  the  man  Christ  Jesus." 

He  showed  why  a  mediator  was  necessary.  What 
were  the  qualifications  of  a  mediator.  How  Jesus 
Christ  possessed  these,  and  why  a  rejection  of  his 
mediation  left  us  under  the  curst  of  the  law.  Every 


236  KEV.    CHARLES    G.    FINNE*. 

stage  of  the  argument  was  proved  as  logically  as  ever 
Daniel  Webster  made  a  plea  before  a  jury,  or  defend- 
ed the  constitution  in  the  senate  of  the  United  States. 

He  preached  from  the  text,  "for  the  wages  of  sin 
is  death."  He  first  explained  what  is  meant  by  wa- 
ges. Then,  that  death  was  as  much  due  to  the  sin- 
ners as  wages  to  your  hired  laborer.  Then,  the  kind 
of 'death  ;  not  temporal,  for  Adam  didn't  die  a  tempo- 
ral death  the  day  he  sinned. — not  spiritual  death,  for 
then  the  sin  and  its  penalty  would  be  the  same  thing. 
It  must,  then,  be  eternal  death,  here  he  depicted  a 
man  dying — how  we  stand  around  the  couch — our 
horror — our  solemnity — then  he  represented  a  man 
a  week,  a  month,  a  year,  eternally  dying.  This 
would  have  been  horrifying,  had  he  not  presented  a 
remedy  thorough  and  complete. 

I  could  give  the  texts  and  heads  of  every  sermon 
which  he  preached  at  that  meeting,  but  it  is  not 
deemed  necessary  in  this  brief  memoir. 

We  unanimously  agreed  at  that  meeting  that  Mr. 
Fin  I  ley  was  a  good  man  and  a  good  preacher,  an  it 
was  not  at  all  surprL-ing  that  Dr.  Wisner  so  reported 
to  the  Boston  pastors. 

His  visit  to  Boston,  however,  was  not  all  sunshine. 
There  were  some  among  the  ministers  who  stood 
aloof  from  him.  There  were  some  who  did  not  be- 
lieve in  Evangelists  in  these  latter  days,  and  so  would 
not  cooporate  with  him  on  that  account.  There  were 
some  who  did  not  receive  his  doctrine,  and  I  remember 
one  minister  wrote  a  pamphlet  against  his  preaching. 


EEV.    CHARLES    G.    FINNEY.  237 

Mr.  Finney  cams  to  Boston  several  times  sifter  this 
first  visit.  He  preached  one  winter  in  the  old  Marl- 
boro Chapel,  now  the  Lowell  Institute. 

He  was  perfectly  subdued,  he  exhibited  true  christ- 
ian  humility.  He  never  uttered  a  hard  word  sigainst 
his  opposers,  though  he  knew  they  were  around  him. 

He  sifter  wards  preached  for  Dr.  Stone,  in  Park 
Street  Church,  to  the  edification  of  saints  and  the 
conversion  of  sinners. 

Mr.  Finney  outlived  all  opposition,  silenced  all  his 
enemies,  convinced  everybody  of  the  genuineness  of 
his  piety,  and  during  the  last  years  of  his  lite,  re- 
ceived the  most  convincing  proofs  of  the  love,  confi- 
dence, esteem  and  veneration  of  his  brethren,  ever 
paid  to  anyone  man  in  our  American  Israel,  who  met 
with  so  much  opposition  in  the  early  part  of  his  min- 
istry. Would  you  see  the  honors  paid  to  this  good 
man  near  the  end  of  his  eventful  life,  come  with  me 
to  the  National  Congregational  Council  assembled  in 
Oberlin,  in  1874.  The  great  church  is  filled  with 
pastors  and  delegates,  Mr.  Finney,  the  evangelist, 
the  professor,  the  pastor,  the  president,  walks  up  the 
aisle,  that  vsist  assembly  arise  as  one  man,  stand  with 
awe  till  this  once  persecuted  but  now  vindicated  ser- 
vant of  Christ  is  seated  in  the  pulpit.  He  is  now 
fourscore  and  three  years  old,  like  Moses,  his  eyes  are 
not  dim  ;  he  offers  the  dedicatory  prayer  of  the  great 
council  hall;  with  unabated  bodily  vigor  blesses  his 
brethren,  and  soon  after  goes  home  to  God. 


238  REV.    JOHNATHAN   FRENCH. 

RE7.    JOHNATFIAN    FRENCH,    D.  D.,    CON- 
GREGATION ALIST. 


AMONG  all  these  sketches  of  clergymen,  there  are 
but  one  or  t\vo  with  whom  the  author  had  not  more  or 
less  of  a  personal  acquaintance.  Of  these  t\vo,  Johna- 
than  French  was  not  one.  I  knew  him  well,  and  he 
preached  the  sermon,  at  my  ordination  in  Exeter,  Jan- 
uary 19,  1830. 

Dr.  French  was  born  in  Andover,  Mass.,  August 
10,  1778.  Though  not  a  "Hebrew  of  the  Hebrews," 
he  was  a  Puritan  of  the  Puritans  by  descent  from  both 
father  and  mother,  as  they  were  both  descended  from 
John  Alden,  of  whom  it  has  been  proposed  to  alter 
the  answers  to  two  questions  in  the  old  New  England 
Primer,  as  both  Mary  Chi  I  ton  and  John  Alden  are 
said  to  have  been  the  first  persons  who  landed  on 
Plymouth  Rock.  These  questions  were, — 

Who  was  the  first  woman?     Ans. — Mary  Chilton. 

Who  wras  the  first  man?     Ans. — John  Alden. 

Johnathan  French,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was  the 
only -son  of  Rev.  Jonathan  and  Abigail  French  of  Brain- 
tree,  Mass. 

In  his  fourth  year,  he  was  laid  aside  for  a  long  time 
by  a  severe  scald,  and  during  that  time,  he  says,  "I 
formed  a  purpose  to  become  a  minister,"  and  in  his 
semi-centennial  sermon  he  says.  "I  never  have  relin- 
quished that  plau  for  a  single  moment." 


REV.    JOHNATHAN   FREXCH.  239 

He  entered  Harvard  college  in  his  sixteenth  year, 
and  made  a  profession  of  religion  the  same  year.  He 
graduated  in  1798.  Among  his  classmates  were  such 
men  as  Rev.  VVm.  E.  Channing.  D.  D.,  Joseph  Story, 
LL.  D.,  Joseph Tuckernian,  D.  D.,  and  Hon.  Sydney 
Willard.  Some  idea  may  be  had  of  his  standing  in 
his  class  from  the  fact  that  when  he  was  a  candidate 
for  Master  of  Arts,  he  was  selected  to  deliver  the  ora- 
tion, which  he  declined. 

The  following  is  selected  from  Rev.  Dr.  Tobey's 
sermon,  at  the  funeral  of  Dr.  French,  December  16, 
1856,— 

"The  best  advantages  for  education  to  be  enjoyed  in 
New  England  at  the  period  of  his  youth  were  given 
him ;  and  they  were  well  improved. 

"Thus  with  regard  to  his  Puritan  descent,  his  Christ- 
ian parentage,  his  early  religious  advantages,  he  was 
highly  favored.  He  had  five  talents  given  him.  And 
he  was  accustomed  to  acknowledge  the  circumstances 
of  providential  goodness  towards  him  with  devout 
gratitude  to  God. 

"After  leaving  college  he  was  employed  for  a  time 
as  a  teacher  in  Phillips  Academy  at  Andover.  He 
pursued  the  study  of  theology  under  the  direction  of 
his  father ;  and  he  came  here  to  preach  in  1801.  He 
was  then  about  twenty-three  years  of  age  and  in  per- 
sonal appearance  considerably  younger.  God  .-eemed 
to  lead  him  here  by  special  providence,  and  gave  him 
such  favor  with  the  people,  that  he  thought  it  his  duty 
to  bcccpt  their  invitation,  to  stettle  with  them*  though 


240  KEY.    JOHNATHAN   FRENCH. 

there  were  peculiar  difficulties,  and  a  strong  even  vio- 
lent opposition,  not  to  him  personally,  but  to  a  ma- 
jority in  the  town,  who  wished  him  to  be  their  minis- 
ter. He  was  ordained  Nov.  18,  1801." 

From  this  time  till  the  death  of  the  old  federal  party 
politics  raged  with  great  violence. 

Young  French  knew  the  opposition  that  existed 
against  him,  and  the  greater  opposition  there  was  be- 
tween various  persons  and  families  against  each  other. 
He  required  the  wisdom  of  the  serpent  and  the  harm- 
lessness  of  the  dove  to  sail  quietly  through  these  trou- 
bled M-aters  without  falling  into  Scylla  on  the  one 
hand  or  Charylxlis  on  the  other. 

Few  ministers  have  been  so  well  adapted  to  stem 
the  torrent  of  opposition,  as  he  was.  The  old  law 
requiring  every  family  who  had  not  certificated  to 
another  parish,  was  then  in  vogue,  and  all  were  thus 
taxed  who  belonged  to  the  town's  parish.  This  was 
the  law  all  over  New  England,  and  it  made  trouble 
everywhere. 

Dr.  French  in  his  half  century  sermon  says:  — 
"There  was  in  this  town  at  that  time,  a  man  of  some 
singularity,  who  used  to  say  he  could  not  go  forward 
in  public  affairs,  but  could  lift  at  the  wheel,  and  would 
be  a  gap  man  when  necessary,  to  support  the  minis- 
try. This  declaration  he  uniformly  made  good, 
whether  he  accorded  in  sentiment  with  his  minister 
or  not. 

"  When  he  was  informed  of  the  threatened  disturb- 
ance concerning  taxes*  he  resolved  to  prevent  it  with- 


REV.  JONATHAN  FRENCH.  241 

out  delay.  Having  formed  his  plan,  he  composed, 
mentally,  a  letter  to  the  town,  for  he  very  seldom  used 
a  pen.  He  called  on  a  friend  in  a  neighboring  town 
and  obtained  his  assistance  as  amanuen>is.  The  let- 
ter having  been  written  as  he  dictated  it,  he  requested 
a  fellow  townsman,  who  was  a  good  reader,  to  com- 
municate it  to  the  town  at  a  meeting  which  was  soon 
to  be  holden  for  other  purposes.  I  afterward  asked 
his  leave  to  give  that  letter  to  the  public.  To  this 
he  did  not  consent,  but  allowed  me  to  take  a  copy  and 
read  it  to  my  friends.  The  moral  is  good.  Let  me 
read  it  to  my  friends  here. 

That  the  letter  may  be  understood  it  must  be  observed 
that  his  property  was  not  large,  although  he  had  a  com- 
fortable farm,  and  was  a  tanner  on  a  comparatively 
small  scale,  and  that  his  ministerial  tax  for  several 
years  averaged  not  more  than  four  dollars  annually. 
The  body  of  the  letter,  without  n  111133,  is  as  follows  : 


"To  the  legal  voters  in 


*'  Gentlemen: — We  all  wish  to  discover  what  will 
be  most  for  our  advantage  and  how  we  may  be  most 
prosperous  and  happy.  There  is  an  important  dis- 
covery, which  is  not  to  be  kept  secret,  as  it  is  design- 
ed for  the  good  of  every  one  who  wishes  to  reap  the 
advantages  of  it.  He  hath  showed  thec,  O  man,  what  is 
good  ;  and  what  doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee,  butto'do 
justly,  to  love  mercy ,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  thy  God.' 

"We  do  not  walk  humbly  with  our  God  unless  we 
keep  his  commandments.  And  he  has  commanded  us 
to  support  and  obey  that  blessed  gospel  which  his 


242  REV.    JONATHAN  FEENCH. 

own  dear  son  came  down  from  heaven  to  re  veal.  We 
do  not  love  mercy  unless  when  we  are  able  to  do  good 
we  do  it  cheerfully,  and  are  glad  of  an  opportunity  to 
do  good  to  them  that  need  our  help.  We  do  not 
deal  justly  unless  we  render  to  all  their  dues. 

"To  walk  humbly  we  must  love  and  prize  the  gos- 
pel, and  to  do  justly  we  must  support  the  preaching 
of  it.  Christ  has  commanded  his  ministers  to  go  and 
preach  his  gospel,  and  he  has  commanded  us  to  main- 
tain them.  For  the  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire. 
This  is  good  in  itself.  It  is  good  because  God  re- 
quires it.  And  it  is  good  for  us,  not  only  as  it  relates 
to  the  future  life  and  the  great  day  of  reckoning  but, 
with  regard  to  our  worldly  interest. 

"Christ  says  to  his  ministers,  'Lo  I  am  with  you  al- 
ways,'and  if  we  are  not  with  his  ministers,  we  are 
not  with  him,  for  he  is  on  their  side,  and  we  cannot 
prosper  if  we  are  not  on  the  same  side  with  Christ/' 

This  singularly  eccentric,  and  as  ,sino;ularlv  irood 

O  «^  O  v       O 

man  goes  on  to  say, — "I  have  reason  to  believe  you 
do  not  all  think  as  I  do  in  this  matter,  and  •  I  am 
heartily  sorry  we  do  not  agree  in  so  important  a  point. 
1  understand  there  are  some  among  us  who  determine 
not  to  pay  what  they  are  taxed  to  the  minister.  It  is 
my  desire  that  the  selectmen  and  the  constable  would 
use  all  the  arguments  and  reasons  they  can  to  per- 
suade those  who  have  refused  to  pay,  to  come  and  join 
with  us  in  supporting  the  gospel,  for  I  have  no  desire 
to  take  this  privilege  from  them.  But  it  is  also  my 
desire  that  if  they  do  refuMO*  they  may  not  be  com- 


REV.    JONATHAN  FRENCH.  243 

pelled.  It  is  ray  desire  that  the  constable  may  be  di- 
rected to  return  the  names  of  those  who  are  unwilling 
to  pay  their  minister's  tax,  to  the  selectmen,  and  the 
selectmen  to  deliver  them  to  me,  at  least  seven  days 
before  the  annual  meeting  in  March  next.  If  their 
names  and  minister  tax  as  it  is  now  [  ] 

be  delivered  to  me  by  that  time,  I  hereby  engage  that 
I  will  myself  willingly  pay  all  the  said  taxes  and  see 
that  they  are  crossed  out  of  the  collector's  book. 
And  I  further  engage  that  if  any  are  willing,  and  yet 
unable  to  pay,  I  will  pay  theirs  also,  if  the  selectmen 
shall  judge  that  they  are  not  able.  I  wish  it  to  be 
understood  however,  that  I  have  no  desire  to  deprive 
any  one  of  paying  to  the  support  of  the  gospel,  which 
I  think  a  real  privilege.  Life  is  short.  We  shall  all 
meet  in  the  congregation  of  the  dead.  We  shall 
meet  once  more  after  that.  It  is  my  desire,  and  I 
hope  it  is  yours,  that  we  may  meet  with  joy.' 

"The  whole  sum  before  mentioned  he  paid  freely,  bwt 
did  not  have  occasion  to  make  a  similar  proposal  again." 
Dr.  French  once  told  the  writer  the  following  :  — 
"When  a  young  man  1  preached  as  a  candidate,  and 
a  parish  meeting  was  called  to  act  upon  inviting  me 
to  become  their  pastor.  In  the  mean  time  a  sabbath 
occurred  before  the  meeting,  on  Avhich  an  elderly 
brother  preached  from  the  text,  'Lay  hands  suddenly 
on  no  man.'  I  was  told  they  would  have  given  me  a 
unanimous  call  had  they  not  heard  his  sermon.  But 
as  they  supposed  the  old  minister  knew  somewhat 
against  me,  aud  intended,  to  caution  them  not  to  call 


244  REV.    JONATHAN  FRENCH. 

me  ;  which  was  not  so,  for  he  was  my  good  friend." 
Dr.  French  was  peculiarly  a  peace  maker.  It  has 
already  been  intimated  that  his  ministry  commenced 
at  a  time  of  strong  partisan  political  conflicts,  which 
then  prevailed  throughout  the  whole  country,  and 
nothing  of  the  kind  so  acrimonious  has  since  trans- 
pired. By  his  specific  demeanor  and  courteous  de- 
portment he  won  over  and  secured  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  the  whole  people ;  and  in  a  large  de- 
gree their  cordial  esteem.  I  remember  the  following 
incident  which  speaks  volumes  for  his  peace  principles. 
When  he  had  been  the  pastor  for  thirty  years,  one  of 
his  parishoners  said  of  him,  "I  was  opposed  to  his  settle- 
ment, and  I  never  intended  to  be  reconciled  to  him  ;  but 
for  all  these  years  his  conduct  has  been  so  gentle,  kind 
and  generous,  that  I  can't  help  liking  the  little  devil." 
Rev.  Dr.  Tobey  in  his  funeral  sermon  says  of  him, 
"If  he  was  not  endowed  with  an  intellect  of  the  very 
highest  order,  he  had  a  very  clear  mind,  well  adapted 
to  the  common  affairs  of  life.  If  he  had  not  the 
sharpest  metaphysical  acumen,  he  had  sound  sense,  a 
fairness  and  candor  of  judgment,  which  saved  him 
from  a  partisan  or  bigoted  attachment  to  any  peculi- 
arity of  belief,  and  made  him  a  judicious  inquirer 
after  truth,  ready  to  receive  it  and  not  afraid  to  trust 
it,  from  whatever  source  it  might  come.  He  was 
firmly  established  in  the  evangelical  system  of  faith, 
but  he  had  no  theological  shibboleth.  If  he  had  not 
all  the  multifarious  learning  of  the  schools,  his  mind 
was  active  and  weli-iuformed  oa  the  subjects  pertain- 


REV.   JONATHAN  FRENCH.  245 

ing  to  his  own  profession,  and  also  in  matters  of  gen- 
eral knowledge  and  whatever  interests  intelligent  men. 
His  mind  was  well-balanced.  He  had  in  an  unusual 
degree  an  acquaintance  with  human  nature,  and  a 
readiness  to  put  himself  in  the  right  place  and  do  the 
right  things,  which,  joined  with  his  decision,  modesty, 
frankness,  honesty  and  benevolence,  fitted  him  to  lead 
the  common  minds  by  whom  he  was  surrounded, 
safely,  enduringly,  and  for  their  highest  good." 

At  the  time  I  kneAV  Dr.  French,  he  was  in  the  thir- 
tieth year  of  his  pastorate  ;  and  he  then  had  the  uni- 
versal esteem  and  confidence  of  his  people,  and  among 
the  congregational  ministers  of  New  Hampshire  occu- 
pied about  as  prominent  a  position  as  Gen.  Washing- 
ton did  in  the  army  of  the  American  revolution.  He 
was  abundant  in  labors  and  spared  not  himself.  He 
counted  not  his  own  life  dear  to  himself  if  he  might 
win  souls  to  Christ.  His  praise  was  in  all  the  churches 
of  the  vicinity.  He  has  been  remembered  throughout 
the  whole  state  and  in  many  parts  of  adjoining  states, 
as  a  good  man,  preeminently  a  man  of  God ;  a  wise 
counsellor,  a  faithful  friend  and  useful  minister  among 
the  churches.  Though  always  in  narrow,  pecuniary 
circumstances,  yet  he  found  supplies  for  all  the  neces- 
sities of  his  numerous  household,  having  had  five  sons 
and  six  daughters,  all  of  whom  were  alive  at  the  time 
of  his  decease.  He  had  an  active  pastorate  of  fifty- 
five  years,  and  during  that  long  period  death  never 
entered  his  dwelling  until  he  was  called  to  his  reward 
in  heaven. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


REY.   JOSEPH   SYLVESTER    CLARK,    D.  D.. 
CONGREGATIONALISM 


1  CANNOT  close  this  volume  without  saying  some- 
thing of  this  eminent  and  devoted  minister,  though  it 
may  seem  presumptuous  to  speak  of  him  after  what 
Rev.  Professor  Edwards  A.  Park  wrote  of  him  some- 
time since  in  the  Congregational  Quarterly,  as  it  may 
well  be  asked  "  who  shall  come  after  the  king. " 

Professor  Park  makes  everything  which  he  touches 
shine  so  lucidly  that  one  would  suppose  his  pen  must 
be  dipped  in  sunbeams.  Nevertheless,  as  I  knew  Dr. 
Clark  well  when  he  was"  settled  in  Sturbridge,  and 
also  during  the  whole  of  his  long  service  as  secretary 
of  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society,  I  shall  ven- 
ture to  give  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life ;  acknowleds:- 

O  o 

ing  here  once  for  all  my  indebtedness  to  Prof.  Park, 
and  also  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  B.  Clark,  the  only  sur- 
viving son  of  Dr.  Clark. 

Rev.  Dr.  Clark  was  born  Dec.  19,  1800,  at  Mano- 
met  Ponds,  South  Plymouth,  about  seven  miles  from 


REV.    JOSEPH   SYLVESTER   CLARK.  247 

the  old  Plymouth  rock.  The  following  sketch  of  his 
family  is  quoted  from  Dr.  Park:  "The  place  where 
he  was  born  was  owned  by  his  earliest  ancestor  in 
this  country.  That  ancestor  Avas  Thomas  Clark,  of 
whom  there  goes  a  tradition  that  he  piloted  the  May- 
flower into  Plymouth  harbor,  and  gave  his  name  to 
f  Clark's  Island.'  He  must  have  been  a  youth  of 
twenty-one  years  Avhen  he  arrived  in  the  Mayflower ; 
for  his  grave  stone  in  the  burying  hill  says  he  died 
March  24,  1697,  aged  ninety-eight. 

"  Passing  down  the  line  of  descent  from  the  sup- 
posed mate  of  the  MayfloAver,  we  find  the  son  Thomas, 
the  grandson  James,  the  great  grandson  James,  and 
then  we  come  to  the  great-great  grandson  Seth,  who 
Avas  the  father  of  Dr.  Joseph,  and  some  of  whose 
characteristics  were  imaged  forth  in  the  son. 

"Seth  Clark  was  a  man  of  good  education,  espec- 
ially in  the  mathematics.  Through  life  he  remained 
a  former,  cultivating  the  same  lands  Avhich  belonged 
to  Thomas,  his  first  American  ancestor.  On  that  old 
homestead  he  was  born  ;  and  there  on  the  5th  of  June, 
1828,  he  died,  aged  60  years.  He  Avas  remarkable 
for  his  accurate  judgment  and  discreet  counsels.  He 
did  not  regard  himself  a  regenerate  man,  but  he  was 
a  diligent  reader  of  the  Bible,  and  a  punctual  attend- 
ant at  religious  meetings.  He  did  not  pray  Avith  his 
family,  but  he  had  the  Scriptures  read  aloud  by  his 
household  every  evening,  and  the  only  chastisement 
which  one  of  his  sons  remembers  to  haAre  received 
from  him,  was  for  poor  reading  at  this  exercise.  He 


248  REV.    JOSEPH  SYLVESTER   CLARK. 

seldom  resorted  to  punishment  in  bis  household. 
Reasoning  and  advice  were  his  instruments  of  disci- 
pline. His  considerate  kindness  to  all  the  inmates  of 
his  dwelling  was  proverbial.  Like  his  Pilgrim  fath- 
ers, he  had  been  early  trained  to  'keep  Saturday 
night'  as  a  part  of  the  Sabbath.  His  wife,  on  the 
other  hand,  had  been  trained  to  'keep  Sabbath  night.' 
He  preferred  that  they  should  both  adhere,  after  their 
marriage,  to  their  favorite  usages  in  this  regard. 
They  did  so.  No  one  in  the  family  was  allowed  to 
brush  a  pair  of  boots  or  shoes  after  the  Saturday's 
sunset.  Perhaps  it  is  difficult  to  find,  at  the  present 
day,  a  better  specimen  of  an  old  Puritan,  who  adop- 
ted the  Arminian  theology,  and  did  not  regard  him- 
self a  practical  Christian. 

"Mary  Tupper,  the  mother  of  Dr.  Clark,  was  born 
April  17,  1762,  in  South  Plymouth,  the  same  town 
where  his  p;iternal  ancestors  had  resided.  She  is  yet 
living,  [January,  18()2,]  in  her  one-hundredth  year. 
One  who  has  marked  her  daily  conduct,  observes  ;  'I 
have  never  known  her  say  a  word  against  any  person, 
and  I  have  never  known  any  person  say  a  word 
against  her.'  Another  writes  :  'I  have  lived  near  her 
and  noticed  her  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  and  I  have 
never  seen  h»-r  ruffled  in  her  temper  in  the  least 
degree.'  She  did  not  unite  with  the  church  until 
April,  1805.  Then  her  children  were  baptised.  Their 
names  were,  Seth,  Nathaniel,  Israel,  Nancy,  Susan  8, 
Joseph  Sylvester,  and  Sarah  S." 

Dr.  Clark's  education  commenced  under  his  father 


REV.    JOSEPH    SYLVESTER    CLARK.  249 

during  the  long  winter  evenings,  sitting  around  the 
kitchen  lire.  His  father  instructed  him  principally  in 
mathematics.  He  is  represented  as  having  then  been 
"a  very  good  boy."  He  always  had  this  reputation 
with  his  playmates.  He  was  ever  kind,  witty,  and 
agreeable.  He  commenced  teaching  school  in  his 
native  town  before  he  was  seventeen  years  old.  He 
kept  a  "day  book"  neatly  written  and  carefully  no- 
ting all  his  expenses.  He  was  converted  in  1819. 
From  that  time  he  determined  to  preach  the  gospel. 
He  commenced  stud}' ing  the  latin  grammer,  carrying 
it  in  his  pocket  while  he  worked  on  the  farm.  His 
father  did  not  approve  of  his  studying  for  the  minis- 
try, and  did  not  give  him  fifty  dollars  while  he  was 
preparing  for  college.  He  entered  Amherst  College 
in  1823.  President  Hitchcock  says  :  "With  him  there 
was  very  little  loss  of  power,  so  judicious  were  all  his 
plans."  He  was  never  a  college  genius.  He  taught 
and  studied  in  vacations.  In  his  early  note-book 
there  are  about  fifty  of  his  poetical  effusions.  They 
are  symmetrical  and  carefully  prepared.  At  his  grad- 
uation he  received  the  ATaledictory  honors  more  on 
account  of  his  excellent  deportment  and  diligence, 
than  for  excelling  in  his  studies.  He  could,  however, 
not  be  considered  a  laggard  in  them. 

In  1827  he  entered  the  theological  seminary  at 
Anclover.  After  one  year's  study  he  left  a  year  for 
his  old  employment  of  teaching.  He  graduated  there 
in  1831.  While  there  he  wrote  several  elaborate 
essays.  He  was  so  frugal  of  his  time  that  with  his 


250  REV.    JOSEPH   SYLVESTER   CLARK. 

class-mate,  Prof.  Park,  be  often  rose  with  the  early 
morning  between  four  and  five  o'clock,  not  to  go  to 
the  ocean  as  Demosthenes  did  to  cultivate  eloquence, 
but  to  repair  to  "Collins  Woods"  or  "Indian  Ridge" 
for  that  purpose.  He  was  an  early  riser  all  his  days, 
and  always  saving  of  his  time.  He  always  held  the 
Andover  Seminary  in  high  esteem.  He  was  secreta- 
ry of  the  Alumni  society  from  1852  until  his  decease. 
It  is  not  so  much  in  literature  as  in  his  religious 
life  that  he  manifested  his  honest  and  strong  Puritan- 
ism. He  went  with  his  father  to  the  Unitarian  meet- 
ing and  was  esteemed  a  good  Unitarian.  -  Prof.  Park 
says  at  what  period  of  his  life  he  did  accept  the  doc- 
trine of  Christ's  divinity,  is  not*  precisely  known. 
He  did  not  connect  himself  with  the  church  till  June 
9,  1832.  His  narrative  of  his  early  religious  thoughts 
was  written  in  October,  1825  ;  and  it  is  invested  with 
a  peculiar  interest  by  the  above  named  facts,  which, 
however,  it  does  not  even  mention.  The  following 
are  extracts  from  it : "  When  about  five  years  old,  my 
mother  made  a  public  profession  of  the  religion  of 
Jesus ;  and  agreeably  to  her  creed,  presented  me  at 
the  baptismal  fount  to  receive  that  sacred  ordinance. 
This  is  one  of  the  first  events  of  which  I  have  any 
distinct  recollection.  Having  thus  given  me  to  the 
Lord  in  baptism,  my  pious  mother  was  not  unmind- 
ful of  her  obligation  to  train  me  up  in  the  fear  of  God. 
She  endeavored  to  teach  me  the  duty  of  prayer.  As 
I  advanced  in  years,  I  made  it  an  invariable  custom 
to  offer  up  my  prayers  to  God  on  each  night  before 


REV.    JOSEPH    SYLVESTER   CLARK.  251 

closing  iny  eyes  to  sleep,  though  with  such  indiffer- 
ence that  I  not  unfrequently  dropped  to  sleep  while 
engaged  in  this  solemn  exercise.  This  practise  I  con- 
tinued till  about  the  age  of  twelve,  when  I  abandoned 
it  entirely,  under  the  impression  that  it  was  an  abom- 
ination thus  to  attempt  prayer." 

During  the  subsequent  years  of  his  childhood  our 
friend  was  frequently  agitated  with  fear  in  regard  to 
his  future  welfare.  He  writes  :  "I  have  fresh  in  my 
mind  the  state  of  my  feelings  at  school  one  winter, 
when  there  was  some  excitement  among  my  school- 
mates. Our  pious  instructor  warned  us  to  '  flee  from 
the  wrath  to  come,'  and  choose  the  good  part  while 
we  had  it  in  our  power  to  choose.  With  an  uncom- 
mon degree  of  excitement,  I  went  to  a  solitary  room 
one  day,  to  ponder  upon  what  my  instructor  had  been 
telling  me  at  school.  He  had  been  enforcing  the  duty 
of  repentance,  and  pointing  out  the  cause  of  alarm  to 
us.  I  thought  intently  upon  my  ways,  until  I  found 
that  I  was  in  a  sad  condition  indeed,  but  just  at  that 
instant  the  thought  occurred  to  my  mind  that,  by 
being  alarmed,  I  was  obeying  the  injunctions  of  my 
teacher,  and  was  thus  in  a  fair  way  to  obtain  religion. 
No  sooner  had  this  reflection  entered  my  mind  than 
all  my  anxiety  fled,  and  with  it  all  thoughts  about 
getting  religion. 

"  One  day  while  bathing  in  company  with  two  of  my 
companions,  it  was  proposed  to  swiuito  a  small  island 
at  a  little  distance  from  the  shore.  The  proposal  was 
no  sooner  made  than  agreed  to  ;  though  I,  being  thq 


252  REV.    JOSEPH    SYLVESTER    CLARK. 

least  skilled  in  swimming  of  the  three,  felt  some  fears 
of  failing  in  the  attempt,  Ashamed  of  being  outdone, 
I  set  out  with  the  ivst,  but  when  about  half  way  over 
to  the  island,  I  began  to  sink.  Never  shall  I  forget 
the  horrors  which  filled  my  mind  when  I  found  myself 
sinking.  I  expected  in  a  moment  to  open  my  eyes 
in  hell,  which  I  considered  my  inevitable  doom.  But 
by  the  unusual  courage  of  one  of  my  companions, 
who  hastened  to  my  succor  and  caught  my  arm  when 
going  down,  1  was  borne  up  and  succeeded  in  getting 
to  shore.  Shocked  at  this  event,  I  began  to  reflect 
upon  my  ways,  and  found  myself  utterly  unprepared 
for  death.  .  That  night  I  attempted  to  pray  ;  but  no 
sooner  wi  re  my  eyes  closed  for  this  purpose,  than 
awful  fears  terrified  my  mind,  lest  when  I  opened 
them  I  should  behold  Satan  .standing  by  to  resist  me. 
This  terror  accompanied  every  attempt,  and  I  aban- 
doned the  practice  for  no  other  reason.  From  this 
time  to  the  nineteenth  year  of  my  age,  I  continued 
sinking  deeper  and  deeper  in  sin,  without  experiencing 
anything  uncommon." 

October  2,  1831,  Mr.  Clark  preached  at  Sturbridge 
for  the  first  time.  In  four  weeks  he  was  invited  to 
become  the  pastor  of  that  church  and  the  successor 
of  Rev.  Alin  Bond,  D.  D.,  and  on  the  27th  of  Decem- 
ber he  was  ordained  and  installed  at  Sturbridge.  The 
second  t^abbath  after  his  installation  he  admitted  twen- 
ty persons  to  the  church ;  the  next  month  sixteen 
more  were  added;  and  during  the  first  year  of  his 
pastorate  one  hundred  and  thirty  persons  united  with 


REV.    JOSEPH   SYLVESTER   CLARK.  253 

the  church.  The  parish  was  large,  and  his  labors 
abundant,  maintaining  a  service  every  evening  for 
several  months.  In  the  year  1832  he  solemnized  six 
weddings,  attended  ten  funerals,  held  seventy-eight 
religious  meetings,  besides  preaching  two  hundred 
and  sixteen  sermons  and  lectures.  Th<  se  services 
impaired  his  health,  and  on  the  20th  of  December, 
1838,  he  was  dismissed  fr»m  his  pastoral  charge  at 
his  own  request  and  against  the  unanimous  wish  of 
his  people.  About  the  time  he  left,  he  published  a 
pamphlet  of  forty-eight  pages,  entitled,  "A  Historical 
Sketch  of  Sturbridge,  Mass.,  from  its  settlement  to 
the  present  time."  Upon  this  work  he  spent  much 
time.  In  this  elaborate  pamphlet  the  author  thus 
briefly  sums  up  the  results  of  his  own  pastoral  labors  : 
"During  these  seven  years  the  Lord  h»s  added  to  this 
church  two  hundred  and  three  by  profession  and  fifty- 
six  by  letters  .of  recommendation  ;  tv\o  hundred  and 
fifty-nine  in  all.  The  whole  number  now  connected 
with  it  is  three  hundred  and  thirty-five.  In  the  same 
period  of  time  this  church  and  religious  society  have 
contributed  to  various  objects  of  Christian  charity, 
about  $4,000  besides  furnishing  occasional  aid  to 
several  young  men  of  this  town,  in  their  preparation 
for  the  sacred  ministry.  In  1835,  the  interior  of  the 
meeting  house  was  entirely  remodeled  on  a  plan  which 
furnishes  many  more  and  much  better  seats  than  it 
supplied  before.  An  example  so  worthy  of  imitation 
has  since  been  followed  in  at  least  six  of  the  neighbor- 
ing towns." 


254  REV.    JOSEPH    SYLVESTER    CLARK. 

We  now  come  to  Dr.  Clark's  great  work  which  he 
performed  as  secretary  of  the  Massachusetts  Mission- 
ary Society.  He  was  first  appointed  to  this  office 
the  28th  of  May,  1829.  Prof.  Park  sketches  his 
adaptedness  to  this  office  so  well  T  cannot  forbear 
to  quote  it. 

"He  had  been  a  member  of  a  feeble  church,  and  of 
one  which  had  withdrawn,  at  a  great  sacrifice,  from 
the  Unitarian  fellowship.  We  have  seen  that  some 
of  his  dearest  friends,  that  even  he  himself,  had  been 
attached  to  the  'liberal'  faith.  He  had  thus  been 
trained  to  sympathise  with  our  indigent  churches, 
exiled  as  they  were  from  the  old  meeting-houses 
where  their  father's  worshipped,  and  encompassed  with 
intelligent  and  opulent  opposers  of  the  Puritan  creed. 
While  he  was  a  student  at  Amherst  and  Andover,  he 
labored  as  a  lay  missionary  in  various  destitute  re- 
gions of  Xew  England.  As  early  as  1823,  we  find 
him  on  a  successful  agency  in  behalf  bf  the  Boston 
Telegraph,  a  religious  newspaper,  then  recently  es- 
tablished. In  1828  we  find  him  walking  thirty  miles 
a  day,  (fifty  miles  on  one  day)  on  a  mission  among  a 
degraded  people  in  behalf  of  the  American  Bible 
Society.  A  brief  extract  from  his  journal  during  this 
expedition  illustrates  the  general  spirit  with  which  he 
conducted  his  missionary  work:  'May  3,  pulled  off 
my  gloves  in  order  to  expose  my  hands  to  the  sun, 
lest  their  delicate  complextion  should  prejudice  some 
of  these  ignorant  rustics  against  my  agency.  Also, 
tucked  out  of  sight  my  watch-seal,  and  tried  the  ex^ 


REV.   JOSEPH   SYLVESTER   CLARK.  255 

• 

periment  of  walking  without  my  glasses.  This  was 
attended  with  great  inconvenience,  but  I  am  resolved 
to  do  the  best  I  can  without  them  for  the  same  rea- 
son. ' " 

These  characteristic  words  illustrate  the  cautious, 
self-denying  temper,  with  which  he  labored  for  the 
poor  whom  he  had  always  with  him.  He  had  been 
through  life  a  lover  of  statistics  and  interested  in  the 
civil  as  well  as  ecclesiastical  history  of  New  England. 
Indeed,  he  entered  on  his  secretaryship  with  a  per- 
sonal interest  in  the  churches  assigoed  to,  his  care. 
He  became  familiar  with  their  wants.  He  ingratia- 
ted himself  into  their  affections.  He  gained  their 
hearty  confidence.  His  letters  to  them  abound  with 
well  studied  advise  on  affairs,  finaneial,  ecclesiastical, 
theological,  and  practically  religious.  He  was  re- 
spected as  a  sagacious  man,  but  still  more  as  an  honest 
one.  Seldom  has  a  secretary  devised  so  many  plans 
and  yet  escaped  the  suspicion  of  being  a  diplomatist. 
The  home  missionaries  loved  him  as  their  brother  or 
father.  By  his  minute  knowledge  of  common  affairs, 
his  round  about  sense  which  enabled  him  to  make  a 
rule  where  he  could  not  find  one,  his  warm  sympa- 
thies with  pious  men,  his  good  natured  intercourse 
with  the  enemies  of  missions,  his  true  hearted  plain- 
ness of  speech,  he  was  enabled  to  perform  such  a 
work  for  our  feeble  churches  as  could  have  been  per- 
formed by  very  few  churches.  This  was  the  great 
work  of  his  life.  In  order  to  perfect  himself  in  it,  he 
travelled  through  the  New  England  and  Western 


256  REV.    JOSEPH    SYLVESTER    CLARK. 

states  with  an  eye  and  an  ear  open  to  every  sight  and 
sound  which  could  affect  the  Home  Missionary  en- 
terprise. Between  the  thirty-ninth  and  the  fifty- 
seventh  year  of  his  age  he  devoted  his  matured 
thoughts  to  his  secretaryship,  and  having  held  it 
eighteen  years  he  resigned  it  on  the  23rd  of  Septem- 
ber, 1857. 

He  left  seven  quarto  volumes,  each  containing  from 
four  hundred  to  one  thousand  pages, containing  copies  of 
his  official  letters.  Pie  published  a  volume  in  1858, 
entitled,  "A  Historical  Sketch  of  the  Congregational 
Churches  of  Massachusetts,  from  1620  to  1858,  with 
an  appendix." 

He  espoused  the  plan  of  forming  a  Congregational 
Library  Association  with  great  zeal.  He  attended 
the  first  meeting  held  to  organize  this  association  ; 
and  from  that  time  forward  to  his  decease,  he  was  an 
earnest  worker  in  gathering  the  library.  He  was 
elected  its  corresponding  secretary  in  1853;  and  its 
financial  agent  in  June,  1857.  In  short  he  was  one 
of  the  most  zealous  workers  in  gathering  together 
that  useful  library. 

His  connection  with  Amherst  College  was  long  and 
exceedingly  useful  to  the  college.  He  was  one  of  its 
early  tutors,  and  a  constant  friend  of  that  institution 
until  his  decease. 

Dr.  Clark  died  on  Saturday,  Aug.  17,  1861.  His 
s'on,  Rev.  Joseph  13.  Clark,  who  now  fills  the  secre- 
taryship so  long  occupied  by  his  father,  wrote  of  that 
death:  "About  his  bed,  at  the  time  of  his  death, 


REV.    JOSEPH   SYLVESTER   CLARK.  257 

were  gathered  all  the  members  of  his  own  family, 
( except  his  missionary  daughter)  his  own  surviving 
brothers,  with  their  families,  the  physician  of  the 
place,  and  his  friend  Dr.  Blackmer,  of  the  McLean 
Hospital,  at  Somerville,  Mass.,  who  was  providen- 
tially present.  His  rnothi  r,  almost  a  century  old, 
could  hardly  realize  the  fact  that  her  Joseph  was  no 
more." 

Funeral  services  were  held  at  the  old  homestead, 
in  South  Plymouth,  on  the  evening  of  the  Sabbath, 
when  those  who  had  been  the  friends  of  the  deceased 
in  his  early  years,  took  their  tearful  leave  of  his  re- 
mains. The  body  was  removed  to  West  Newton  on 
the  following  Tuesday,  to  be  buried  in  the  family  in- 
closure  within  the  Newton  Cemetery.  Early  in  the 
afternoon  of  that  day,  the  congregational  meeting- 
house was  filled  with  the  friends  and  neighbors  of  him 
who  was  eminently  a  friend  and  neighbor  where  he 
had  lived.  Many  clergymen  were  present ;  and  of 
their  number,  six  most  intimately  associated  with  the 
deceased,  were  bearers  of  the  pall.  The  remains 
were  laid  in  the  vestibule  of  the  meeting-house,  and 
covered  with  gifts  of  flowers,  which  the  kindness  of 
friends  had  thoughtfully  provided. 

Rev.  Mr.  Patrick  pastor  of  the  church,  opened  the 
services  with  prayer,  and  brief  but  appropriate  remarks. 
A  select  choir  then  sung  Bonar's  beautiful  hymn  : 

uRest  for  the  toiling  band, 
Best  for  tlie  anxious  brow. 
Rest  for  the  weary,  way  worn  feet, 
Rest  from  all  labor  now."' 


258  REV.    ELIAS    K.    BEADLE. 

Dr.  Clark  will  long  be  remembered  by  those  who 
knew  him  as  amiable  and  lovely  in  deportment,  con- 
scientious in  his  dealings,  engaging  earnestly  and  zeal- 
ously in  every  cause  which  he  espoused ;  and  never 
ceasing  to  labor  to  accomplish  what  he  undertook  so 
long  as  there  seemed  a  possibility  of  its  being  done. 
He  fulfilled  the  injunction  of  the  Apostle,  "be  cour- 
teous "  as  well  as  any  clergyman  of  the  nineteenth 
century. 


REV.   ELIAS   R.    BEADLE,   I).  D..   LL.  D.. 
PRESBYTERIAN. 


DR.  BEADLE  was  born  on  the  13th  of  October,  1812, 
at  Cooperstown,  X.  Y.  He  died  on  Monday  niorn- 
inof.  Januarv  G,  1878,  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  his 

«.  V  «J 

age.  He  never  graduated  at  any  college  and  was 
what  might  lie  properly  called  a  self-made  man.  He 
possessed  great  courage,  a  strong  mind,  and  much 
perseverance.  Xo  obstacle  could  prevent  him  from 
pursuing  a  course  which  his  reason  and  conscience 
approved.  He  was  the  master  of  his  own  studies  and 
acquired  a  large  amount  of  scientific-  and  theological 
knowledge.  In  1837  he  went  as  a  missionary  to  Sy- 
ria, under  the  direction  of  the  American  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions.  He  remained  there  four  years,  but 
a  war  breaking  out  in  the  tribe  in  which  he  was  labor- 
ing he  retired  from  that  field.  His  health  becoming: 


REV.    ELIAS   E.    BEADLE.  259 

delicate  he  returned  to  this  country.  While  in  Syria 
he  mastered  the  Arabic  tongue,  in  which  he  could 
converse  with  great  fluency.  He  also  spake  German 
and  French  well  at  the  time  of  his  decease. 

Soon  after  his  retufn  to  America  he  went  to  New 
Orleans  and  there  organized  three  churches,  over  one 
of  which  he  was  pastor  for  several  years.  In  1852  he 
removed  to  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  was  installed  the 
first  pastor  of  the  Pearl  Street  Church,  where  he  re- 
mained ten  years,  and  his  labors  were  crowned  with 
great  success.  In  1862  he  removed  to  Rochester,  N. 
Y.,  but  his  health  was  not  good  in  that  climate,  and 
in  1865  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church .  This  church 
was  then  located  in  Seventh  Street,  below  Arch,  in  a 
business  part  of  the  city.  The  church  was  organized 
under  the  labors  of  George  Whitefield,  about  the  year 
1743.  Its  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent,  then 
followed  John  Murray,  James  Sproat,  Ashbel  Green, 
J.  N.  Abeel,  Jacob  J.  Janeway,  Thomas  H.  Skinner, 
Joseph  Sanford,  Cornelius  C.  Cuyler  and  Charles  W. 
Shields. 

Dr.  Beadle  was  the  eleventh  pastor.  When  he  was 
installed  the  church  was  very  small.  Under  his  min- 
istry it  became  one  of  the  largest  of  the  city.  Its 
regular  attendance  numbering  from  six  to  seven  hun- 
dred. In  1867  the  old  house  and  the  land  on  Seventh 
Street  were  sold,  and  the  lot  was  purchased  on  Twen- 
ty-first and  Walnut  Streets  for  a  HCAV  edifice.  In  1872 
preaching  was  commenced  in  this  new  house.  As  is 


260  KEY.    ELIAS   R.    BEADLE. 

generally  the  case  in  these  days  there  was  a  heavy 
debt  contracted  in  building  this  house  which  greatly 
troubled  Dr.  Beadle. 

On  the  first  Sabbath  in  the  year  1879,  Dr.  Beadle 
preached  a  powerful  sermon  m  the  morning,  his  sub- 
ject being  "Christ  Vindicated,"  and  he  said  from  the 
pulpit  it  was  the  happiest  day  of  his  life,  because  he 
was  able  to  announce  to  the  congregation  that  the 
debt  had  all  been  provided  for.  He  was  often  heard 
to  say  that  he  should  consider  his  life  work  ended 
when  the  debt  upon  his  church  was  paid.  As  he  was 
leaving  the  church  after  the  services  on  Sunday,  Mr. 
Hazleton,  one  of  his  parishoners,  came  up  and  wished 
him  a  happy  new  year.  "And  I  wish  you  a  happy 
new  year  and  many  of  them,"  replied  the  doctor,  and 
I  think  you  will  see  more  of  them  than  I  shall. 

"I  don't  know,"  said  Mr.  Hazleton,  "you  seem  good 
for  a  good  many  years  yet." 

"Well,"  replied  Dr.  Beadle,  "I  never  felt  better 
mentally  or  physically,  than  I  do  now."  He  then 
started  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pitkins  for  their  house,  in 
De  Lancey  Place,  where  he  was  to  dine.  He  walked 
vigorously,  with  'his  chest  thrown  out  and  his  coat 
unbuttoned,  not  seeming  to  mind  the  cold,  and  he  ral- 
lied Mr.  Pitkins,  who  had  his  coat  collar  turned  up 
about  his  ears,  saying:  "Why,  Horace,  you  look  all 
shrivelled  up."  As  they  passed  the  corner  of  Nine- 
teenth and  Spruce  Streets  a  terribly  cold  blast  of  wind 
struck  them  in  the  face,  and  Dr.  Beadle  threw  up  his 
hand  and  turned  around  with  his  back  to  the  wind. 


REV.    ELIAS   R.    BEADLE.  261 

He  then  took  a  few  steps  and  stood  leaning  against 
tho  wall.  When  Mr.  Pitkin  approached  and  asked 
him  what  was  the  matter,  he  replied  that  he  could  not 
breathe.  Mr.  Pitkin  took  his  arm  and  mpported  him 
to  the  house.  On  the  way  Dr.  Beadle  said:  "It  is 
getting  dark."  He  was  placed  upon  a  sofa  and  a  foot- 
bath applied,  and  Dr.  D.  Hayes  Agnew,  his  physician 
and  friend  and  a  member  of  his  church,  was  summoned 
and  did  all  that  medic-al  skill  could  suggest  for  his  re- 
lief. Dr.  Beadle  suffered  the  most  excruciating  agony 
in  the  chest  until  about  five  o'clock,  when  the  anodynes 
which  had  been  given  him  began  to  take  effect  and  he 
became  somewhat  easier.  He  gradually  sank,  but 
retained  consciousness  to  the  last.  He  spoke  but  lit- 
tle, however,  owing  to  the  great  pain  which  he  suf- 
fered. He  was  heard  to  say  :  "Oh,  Lord,  and  is  this 
the  way?"  and  afterwards,  he  repeated  it,  "Oh,  Lord, 
and  is  this  the  way?"  He  was  also  heard  to  say  sev- 
eral times  in  a  faint  voice  :  "What  is  it?"  "What  is  it  ?" 
He  drank  an  ounce  of  the  essence  of  beef  about  half 
a  minute  before  he  died. 

Dr.  Beadle  was  not  onl}'  a  thorough  theologian  but 
a  scientist  of  a  high  order.  He  devoted  much  time 
to  scientific  studies.  His  specialties  were  mineralogy 
and  conch  ology.  He  was  one  of  the  highest  author- 
ities in  America  in  this  Litter  science,  and  owned  a 
large  collection  of  minerals  and  shells. 

Dr.  Beadle  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Acad- 
emy of  Natural  Sciences.  He  was  a  man  of  kind  dis- 


262  REV.  DELIAS    R.    BEADLE. 

position,  abounding  charity  and  beloved  by  all  who 
knew  him. 

The  ministerial  association  of  Presbyterian  minis- 
ters, at  their  meeting  on  the  morning  after  Dr.  Bea- 
dle's death,  adopted  the  following  paper,  which  shows 
the  high  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  breth- 
ren : — 

"  We  deem  it  fitting  to  record  our  sense  of  the  loss 
which  we,  in  common  with  his  family,  his  congrega- 
tion, the  city  and  the  church  of  Christ  have  sustained 
in  his  death. 

"Dr.  Beadle  was  a  man  of  accurate  scholarship,  of 
broad  culture,  of  wide  intellectual  sympathies.  His 
love  of  truth  was  ardent  and  his  pursuit  of  truth  was 
incessant  and  laborious.  In  science,  literature  and 
theology  his  attainments  were  large  and  conspicuous. 

''These  intellectual  possessions  and  the  eminent  tal- 
ents by  which  they  were  achieved  he  joyfully  devoted 
to  the  promotion  of  the  highest  Avell-being  of  his  fel- 
low-men through  the  ministry  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 

"In  this  sacred  calling  he  was  loved  and  honored 
in  every  position  he  filled  and  by  all  the  churches  to 
whom  he  was  called  to  minister.  His  preaching  was 
able  and  faithful,  and  in  his  labors  as  a  pastor  he  was 
untiring.  The  Head  of  the  Church  abundently  blessed 
his  work  and  gave  him  many  souls. 

"  We  tender  respectfully  the  expression  of  our  sym- 
pathy to  his  stricken  family  and  to  the  church  he  served 
so  faithfully  and  well." 

The  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  the  oldest  in  this 


REV.    ELLAS    R.    BEADLE.  263 

country  and  of  which  Dr.  Beadle  was  a  member,  re- 
cords not  only  with  profound  regret  for  its  own  loss, 
but  with  tender  submission  to  the  will  of  God,  the 
removal  from  its  roll  of  the  name  of  the  Rev.  Elias  li. 
Beadle,  D.  D. ,  who  was  suddenly  summoned  from  earth 
by  death  this  morning  at  one  o'clock.  Dr.  Beadle 
was  a  scholar  of  great,  varied  and  accurate  attain- 
ments, an  eloquent  preacher,  a  sympathising  pastor, 
a  judicious  presbyter,  a  warm  friend,  a  spiritually- 
minded  and  earnest  Christian.  His  associates  in  the 
Presbytery  must  always  remember  him  with  the  wann- 
est love  and  deepest  admiration.  To  the  members  of 
the  family,  who  have  suddenly  been  bereaved  of  a 
deeply  affectionate  husband  and  father,  and  jto  the 
church,  whose  historical  and  important  pulpit  he  oc- 
cupied for  fourteen  years,  with  such  ability  and  suc- 
cess, the  Presbytery  extends  its  warmest  sympathy, 
the  sympathy  of  itself  a  bereaved  body  in  their  be- 
reavement. It  would  especially  record  the  pleasure 
with  which  it  has  understood  that  in  his  last  public 
service,  which  he  held  yesterday  morning,  Dr.  Beadle 
was  able  to  announce  to  his  beloved  congregation  that 
the  full  amount  for  the  removal  of  the  debt,  which 
rested  on  their  edifice,  had  been  subscribed,  and  that 
the  day,  therefore,  was  a  "glorious"  day,  for  during 
its  closing  hours  his  soul  was  approaching  the  land  of 
glory,  into  which  he  entered  very  soon  after  the  New 
Year  Sabbath,  with  its  record  of  its  last  sermon,  had 
carried  its  account  to  the  judgment  bar. 

Warned  by  tlie  suddenness  of  this  visitation,  the 


264  REV.    ELIAS   K.    BEADLE. 

members  of  the  Presbytery  would  lay  to  heart  its  les- 
sons, and  number  their  own  days.  Who  next?  Let 
all  be  consistent,  faithful,  earnest,  laboriously  en- 
gaged in  the  Master's  work,  and  richly  ready  at  any 
hour  to  enter  into  his  joy. 

[Signed]  E.  M.  PATTERSON. 

JOHN 
A.  NEVIN. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


REV.    ROLLIN   HEBER  NEALE,   D.  D.. 
BAPTIST. 


DB.  NEALE  was  born  in  Southington,  Conn.,  Sept- 
ember 13,  1808.  He  died  September  23,  1879.  His 
parents  were  pious  and  he  received  a  Christian  educa- 
tion. He  entered  the  academy  of  his  native  town  at 
the  age  of  thirteen  years  ;  and  about  this  time  he  was 
converted.  He  began  to  preach  to  those  that  were 
about  him  the  same  night  of  his  conversion.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  was  baptized,  having  been  fully  in- 
structed as  to  the  meaning  of  that  ordinance.  He  fit- 
ted for  college  with  Mr.  Aldeu,  the  pastor  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  of  Southington. 

Dr.  Neale  was  so  good  a  man  that, 

4'Even  his  tailings  leaned  to  virtue"!  side." 

Perhaps  I  can  say  nothing  more  appropriate  of  this 
good  man  than  was  said  by  his  brethren,  at  his  funeral. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Crane,  Dr.  Neale's  successor,  made 
a  brjef  address  saying  that  be  had  known  pr 


266  REV.    EOLLIN   HEBER  NEALE. 

from  his  childhood,  and  that  he  had  always  known 
him  to  love  him.  He  declared  that  he  should  never 
forget  the  generous  manner  in  which  Dr.  Neale  had  wel- 
comed him  as  his  successor.  He  asked  for  himself 
only  that  he  might  have  the  loyal  love,  the  fraternal 
sympathies  of  the  deceased,  qualities  which  shone  pre- 
eminent in  him.  He  then  introduced  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Hague,  Dr.  Neale's  predecessor  in  the  pastorate  of  the 
First  Baptist  church,  who  spoke  feelingly  of  the  loss 
the  community  had  sustained  in  the  venerable  pas- 
tor's death,  and  of  his  noble  character.  That  charac- 
ter he  would  not  attempt  td  analyze,  but  he  would 
speak  briefly  of  his  course  of  life.  Born  in  Southing- 
ton,  Conn.,  September  13,  1808,  of  Christian  par- 
ents, he  was  fortunate  enough  to  be  in  a  town  in  which 
there  was  an  academy.  To  this  he  went  when  he 
was  thirteen  years  old,  and  soon  after  this  came  his 
conversion.  He  began  to  preach  on  the  night  of  his 
conversion  to  those  of  his  own  age  around  him.  At 
sixteen  years  of  yge  he  was  baptized,  understanding 
fully  what  it  meant,  and  registering  his  vow  of  loyal- 
ty to  his  Eternal  King.  Thero  young  Neale  stood  a 
preacher  with  a  New  Testament,  a  positive  religion, 
and  that  he  held  to  through  his  life.  The  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  church,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Alden,  took 
him  in  hand  and  fitted  him  for  college.  Jn  1825  he 
went  to  New  Haven  to  complete  his  preparation  for 
college,  which  he  soon  entered.  Soon  after  that  dine, 
suid  the. speaker,  I  first  .saw  hinj.  That  night. we 
walked  ami  talked  together,  tagiuoiug  u  frioud&lup 


REV.    ROLLIN   HEBER   NEALE.  267 

which  has  never  ceased.  In  1830  he  found  his  way 
to  Newton.  We,  were  at  that  time  co-workers. 
When  he  was  in  college  he  paid  his  way  by  working 
in  the  Washington  navy  yard.  When  he  was  at  New- 
ton he  paid  his  way  by  preaching  at  South  Boston. 
He  carved  out  his  own  fortune.  He  went  from  South 
Boston  to  New  Haven,  and  in  1837  I  preached  his 
inauguration  sermon  as  pastor  of  this  church  and  my 
successor.  Who  could  tell  then  that  his  pastorate 
would  be  one  of  forty  years?  In  1840  I  was  called 
back  to  take  charge  of  the  Federal  Street  church,  and 
to  build  a  new  church  for  it.  We  were  then  co-work- 
ers. There  has  never  been  a  time  of  greater  intel- 
lectual and  moral  a\v:ikcning  than  in  1841,  and  in 
these  stirring  events  Dr.  Neale  took  an  active  p;irt. 
Time  went  on,  and  with  it  came  changes.  Dr.  Neale 
desired  to  have  a  new  church  across  the  common,  but 
his  desire  was  not  gratified.  He  was  pleased,  howev- 
er, wiih  the  union  which  w  >s  affected,  and  his  last 
days  were  spent  in  the  peaceful  contemplation  of  a 
work  well  done.  That  smile  which  played  on  his  lips 
when  I  first  nu-t  him  in  1826  rested  upon  him  when  I 
bade  him  good  by  for  the  last  time.  He  was  a  great 
man,  and  he  was  so  because  as  a  boy,  in  the  face  of 
oppos-ition,  he  dared  to  do  what  his  conscience  dicta- 
ted. He  never  hesitated  to  do  what  was  right,  re- 
buking statesmen  even  when  they  were  wrong,  and 
always  standing  out  boldly  for  his  principles.  For 
him  there  was  no  river  to  cross.-  He  was -taken  to 
Christ  as  he  was,  aud  death  had  £o  terror  for  him. 


268         REV.  ROLLIN  HEBER  NEALE. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Blagden,  formerly  of  the  Old  South 
Church,  was  the  next  speaker.  He  eould  bear  testi- 
mony that  the  deceased  never  departed  from  a  broad 
catholicity ;  that  his  conduct  was  ever  upright  and 
just  to  all,  and  that  he  won  friends  from  all  denomi- 
nations. He  was  full  of  charity,  of  genial  qualities ; 
there  was  no  striking  defect  in  his  character,  but  I 
could  not  help  but  think  at  times  that  he  was  too  len- 
ient to  those  who  differed  from  him,  encouraging  by 
his  manner  what  was  not  fundamentally  erroneous, 
but  what  might  work  harm.  If  it  was  an  error  it  was 
on  the  side  of  charity.  His  life  was  an  example  of 
doing  small  duties  to  which  larger  ones  follow.  In 
closing  the  speaker  said  :  I  believe  that  there  are  poor 
and  ignorant  men,  my  brother,  who  have  been  blessed 
by  your  now  silent  lips  without  your  knowledge,  yet 
who  shall  form  a  part  of  the  Saviour's  crown  in  the 
last  day. 

"The  Rev.  Dr.  Lorrimer  of  Chicago  followed.  He 
said  that  for  ten  years  Dr.  Neale  had  honored  him 
with  his  confidence,  and  he  was  glad  to  speak  for  him 
now  that  his  lips  are  closed  in  death.  I  do  not  be- 
lieve, he  said,  in  annihilation,  but  I  sometimes  al- 
most doubt  the  eternal  existence  of  the  wicked,  whose 
lives  are  so  shrivelled  up  by  themselves  that  we  won- 
der what  there  is  in  them  worth  preserving.  But 
how  different  is  the  life  of  the  righteous  ;  growing  in 
grace,  slowly  ripening,  slowly  rising  into  the  glory 
of  eternal  day.  While  there  is  much  in  the  memory 
of  $IQ  4eeeaae<l  tfcat  Juw  weight,  there  is  more  hi  his 


REV.  ROLLIN  HEBER  NEALE.         269 

life  that  requires  careful  examination  and  imitation. 
He  directed  Phineas  Stowe  to  the  ministry,  glory 
enough  for  one  human  life.  Many  delighted  to  hon- 
or him  as  a  man  of  thought  and  study.  When  his 
powers  failed  and  his  congregation  diminished,  he  re- 
signed his  pastorate,  but  he  soon  sickened  and  two 
years  after  he  breathed  his  last.  His  life  showed 
that  his  spirit  was  animated  by  heavenly  grace.  He 
was  eminently  pure  and  honest ;  he  was  unspotted 
by  either  thought,  word  or  deed,  and  he  will  never 
be  ashamed  of  his  record.  He  was  no  man  of  highly 
wrought  expediency  of  schemes  and  plans,  but  of 
transparent  rectitude  in  sympathy  with  God.  He 
commanded  respect,  confidence  and  love.  What  he 
did  he  did  with  charming  naturalness.  What  he  said 
he  uttered  with  charming  simplicit}^.  No  honest  man 
ever  feared  him.  no  dishonest  man  was  ever  easy  in 
his  presence.  He  was  dignified  enough  to  consort 
with  princes ;  he  was  courteous  enough  to  ever  at- 
tract the  poor.  His  preaching  was  the  putting  of 
truth  in  a  new  form.  He  knew  what  was  in  man  and 
talked  with  such  knowledge.  He  was  no  agitator ; 
he  always  sought  to  perfonn  the  useful  rather  than 
the  romantic,  and  I  believe  that  as  much  good  may 
be  done  by  the  quiet  preacher  as  by  the  blustering 
maniac.  Dr.  Neale  had  no  love  for  contention,  and 
within  a  few  months  he  wrote  words  which  fully  ex- 
pressed that  characteristic  of  his  nature.  He  desired 
to  die  the  pastor  of  his  church,  but  he  felt  that  he 
must  resign  that  place  and  be  made  the  sacrifice. 


270         REV.  ROLLIN  HEBER  NEALE. 

The  very  love  he  bore  his  people  led  him  to  take  this 
step,  but  it  left  a  mark  upon  him  which  was  never 
effaced.  For  hours  he  would  sit  at  home,  buried  in 
sad  reflections,  seeming  to  feel,  "  Who  cares  for  the 
old  minister  now?"  To  Dr.  Neale  his  separation 
from  his  people  meant  only  death.  From  the  day  of 
his  resignation  he  was  slowly  dying.  Words  are  in- 
adequate to  convey  the  sorrow  1  feel.  His  love  for 
me  was  that  of  an  old  man  for  a  young  one ;  mine  to 
him  was  that  of  a  young  man  to  an  old  one  ;  and  they 
were  both  full  of  sweetness. 

I  knew  Dr.  Neale  personally  for  more  than  a  gen- 
eration of  thirty  years.  I  often  preached  for  him.  I 
met  him  on  many  festive  occasions,  on  common  school 
celebrations,  in  conferences,  and  in  every-day  life. 
Like  Dr.  Hague  and  others,  I  can  bear  testimony  to 
his  courtesy,  his  urbanity,  his  social  virtues,  his  fidel- 
ity to  Christian  principle,  his  catholicity,  and  his  ex- 
cellence ns  a  Christian  gentleman. 

He  never  pretended  to  be  a  learned  man.  He  pub- 
lished but  little,  one  single  book,  and  that  a  small 
one.  It  was  not  as  :in  author  that  he  served  his  gen- 
eration, but  as  a  faithful  pastor  to  his  flock,  a  good 
man  in  his  family  and  in  the  community." 

He  could  be  both  jovial  and  dignified, — two  char- 
acteristics which  do  not  always  meet  in  the  same  cler- 
gyman. I  well  remember  how  he  delighted  our  Bos- 
ton teachers,  the  city  government,  and  all  present,  at 
one  of  our  common  school  jubilees,  by  repeating  one 
stanza  of  an  old  song,  which  I  used  to  hear  sung  in 


REV.  ROLLIN  HEBER  NEALE.         271 

the  country  in  my  boyish  days.     I  had  not  heard  it, 
nor  perhaps  thought  of  it,  for  fifty  years.     It  was  :  — 

"  The  schoolmaster  rages  for  the  want  of  more  pay, 
And  vows  he  will  have  it  or  else  go  away; 
Ninety  clays  in  the  year  he  goes  strutting  about; 
Four  weeks  makes  a  month,  leaving  Saturdays  out." 

The  chorus  was  : — 

•'  And  these  hard  times." 

As  this  stanza  was  so  suited  to  the  occasion,  and 
called  forth  such  eclat,  some  one  added  another  of  the 
same  song,  referring  to  the  clerical  profession  ;  and 
still  another,  till  nearly  the  whole  line  of  stanzas  was 
produced,  closing  with  the  miller's  :  — 

'•  The  miller  he'll  tell  you  he'll  gri  .d  for  you  toll, 
He'll  do  the  work  well,  as  lie  can  for  his  soul: 
You  once  turn  your  back,  with  his  dish  and  his  fist, 
He'll  give  you  tlie  toll  and  liimsdf  take  the  grist: 
And  these  hard  times." 

One  can  hardly  conceive  the  thrill  of  joy  which  pre- 
vaded  that  vast  concourse  by  the  felicitous  suggestion 
of  Dr.  Xeale.  He  was  peculiarly  happy  on  ,-uch  oc- 
casions, always  bringing  out  from  his  vast  storehouse 
some  now  thought,  or  striking  some  new  vein,  and 
thus  giving  a  pleasant  tnrn  to  the  amusement  of  the 
assembly.  Few  clergymen  have  been  able  to  <>nter- 
tain  an  audience  on  such  occasions  as  he  could,  and 
yet  be  always  dignified  and  never  lowering  the  cloth. 

Almost  a  giant  in  stature,  as  he  was,  he  possessed 
the  sympathetic  heart  of  a  woman,  and  he  often  re- 
minded me  of  the  stanza  of  Lord  Littleton  in  his  eul- 
ogy on  his  wife  :  — 

'•Even  for  the  kid  or  lamb  thnt  poured  it's  life 

Beneath  the  bloody  knife, 
Her  gentle  tears  would  fall; 
Tears  eloquent  for  all." 


272        REV.  ROLLIN  HEBER  NEAlE. 

Dr.  Neale  was  emphatically  a  peacemaker,  and  as 
such  eminently  a  child  of  God.  Wherever  he  was 
placed  his  voice  was  for  peace.  If  all  pastors  and 
church  members  resembled  him  in  this  respect  there 
would  be  few  quarrels.  Contention  would  be  left  oft' 
before  it  was  meddled  with,  and  peace  would  flow 
like  u  river  among  all  Christians.  Such  was  his  pa- 
cific diposition  as  manifested  towards  those  of  other 
denominations  than  his  own,  and  I  have  been  informed 
by  his  baptist  brethren,  that  this  same  spirit  he  ever 
manifested  among  them.  They  looked  to  him  as  a 
great  peacemaker,  and  in  this  they  were  never  disap- 
pointed. 

I  once  heard  him  relate  the  following.  It  was  when 
there  was  talk  of  cutting  off  Dr.  Pentacost's  church 
from  the  Baptist  denomination  on  account  of  his  (Pen- 
tacost)  and  his  church,  for  the  stand  they  had  taken 
upon  what  was  called  open  communion.  Some  mem- 
bers of  the  association  thought  the  time  had  come  when 
they  should  be  no  longer  in  regular  standing  with  the 
denomination  ;  and,  as  the  subject  had  often  been  up, 
they  were  in  favor  of  pressing  a  summary  resolution 
excising  them  at  once.  Dr.  Neale  said,  in  referring 
to  the  case,  "1  told  Dr.  Lor  rimer  if  he  would  offer  a 
resolution  I  would  second  it ;  and  I  assigned  the  fol- 
lowing reasons  : — this  was  one  of  our  oldest  churches  ; 
it  has  done  good  service  for  Christ ;  brother  Pentacost 
was  a  good  man,  though  wrong  in  this  particular. — 
There  might  be  a  change  in  another  year,  and  things 
might  appear  in  a  different  light."  The  resolution  was 


REV.  ROLLIN  HEBER  NEALE.         273 

passed,  and  resulted  in  the  church's  remaining  in  the 
denomination.  Such  ever,  and  on  all  occasions,  was 
his  desire  to  make  peace. 

He  fulfilled  the  command,  "be  courteous."  On  all 
occasions,  among  his  ministerial  brethren,  in  the  church 
and  towards  those  that  were  without,  he  was  always 
the  urbane,  courteous,  Christian  gentleman.  It  seemed 
impossible  for  him  to  be  otherwise,  so  meek,  gentle 
and  full  of  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  was  he.  In  this  re- 
spect his  brethren  looked  to  him  for  an  example  and 
were  never  disappointed. 

He  was  a  Baptist,  but  not  a  bigot.  He  was  ortho- 
dox, but  tolerant.  He  was  zealous,  but  it  was  in  a 
good  cause  and  tempered  with  moderation.  He  was 
ever  lor  the  truth,  but  he  sought  to  promote  and  pro- 
mulgate it  by  love  and  not  by  hate.  His  weapons 
were  never  carnal.  He  could  and  would  preach  the 
gospel  anywhere  and  everywhere  that  a  door  was 
opened  for  him  to  do  it.  Hence  he  went  everywhere 
preaching  the  word.  He  spread  the  mantle  of  charity 
wide,  and  if  he  ever  erred,  it  was  in  the  exuberant 
overflowing  of  his  love  for  all,  and  striving  by  means 
to  save  some. 

Such  men  as  Dr.  Neale  are  rare,  and  when  such  an 
one  is  removed,  though  it  be  "his  gain  it  is  our  loss." 
Like  David,  he  served  his  geneaation ;  like  John,  he 
" ful.il led  his  course";  and  like  "the  Master's,"  his 
hour  had  come  and  God  took  him. 


274  KEV.    JACOB   IDE. 

REV.    JACOB  IDE,   D.  D.,  CONGREGATIOX- 
ALIST. 


[Bv  REV.  WILLIAM  M.  THA.YER.] 
JACOB  IDE  was  born  in  Attleboro.,  Mass,  March  29, 
1785.     His  father  was  a  farmer,  as  Orthodox  in  his 
methods  of  agriculture  as  he  was  in  believing.     The 
son  was  very  early  introduced  to  the  hard  toil  of  the 
same  occupation,  and  did  his  part  of  bearing  the  fam- 
ily burden  well.     Possessing  much  tact  and  strong 
physical  powers,  with  decidedly  industrious  habits, 
he    rather   distinguished  himself  as   a    boy-farmer. , 
From  fifteen  to  nineteen  years  of  aire  he  worked  out 
for  th«j  noble  purpose  of  relieving  his  father  of  debt. 
This  act  was  voluntary  ou  his  part ;  and  it  shows  that 
his  filial  qualities  were  vigorous   and   commendable. 
A  creditable  degree  of  ambition,  also,  charade' ized 
his  youthful  career  on  the  farm.     He  had  a  strong 
desire  to  excel  in  tilling  the  soil.     He  was  not  will- 
ing to  be  known  as  the  "second  best  "  he  wanted  to 
lead.     Under  the  impulse  of  this  honorable  enthusi- 
asm he  became  the  champion  mower  of  the  town. 
He  could  drive  any  man,  who  ventured  a  trial,  from 
his  swathe.     Many  excellent  stories  are  told  of  his 
prowess  in  the  mowing-fii-ld.     He  had  a  trial  with  a 
young  man  about  his  own  age,  who  was  somewhat  of 
an  expert  in  this  kind  of  labor.     The  father  of  his 
contestant  was  leaning  against  the  fence — a  very  in- 
terested spectator.     Seeing  that  his  son  was  losing  in 


REV.    JACOB   IDE.  275 

the  effort,  he  became  intensely  excited,  and  urged 
him  on  with  the  pride  and  hope  of  a  father.  But  he 
was  compelled  to  accept  the  mortification  of  his  son's 
defeat.  "Nathan  !  Nathan  !"  he  cried  out,  "give  me 
your  scythe  ;"  as  if  the  disappointed  father  could  re- 
trieve the  honors  of  the  family  which  the  son  had 
lost.  But  the  father  was  more  speedily  and  igno- 
miniously  beaten  than  his  son  ;  and  both  retired  from 
the  field  thoroughly  convinced  that  "Jake"  was  the 
champion  mower  of  Attleboro. 

From  boyhood  he  was  very  fond  of  a  horse ;  and 
horses  appeared  to  be  fond  of  him  after  an  acquain- 
tance was  once  established.  When  he  was  quite 
young  his  father  was  startled  one  day  by  looking  out 
of  the  window  and  beholding  Jacob  on  the  back  of 
his  unbroken  colt,  which  was  rearing  and  plunging  to 
throw  the  rider.  Alternately,  the  frightened  animal 
was  standing  erect  upon  his  hind-legs  and  then  upon 
his  fore-legs,  with  his  heels  high  in  the  air,  while  the 
plucky  boy  kept  his  position  with  the  coolness  of  a 
well  trained  athlete.  The  colt  continued  to  rear, 
kick,  and  plunge,  until  he  was  exhausted,  when  he 
yielded  to  his  master,  was  thoroughly  broken,  and 
from  that  moment  could  be  harnessed  and  driven  with 
perfect  safety.  His  father,  who  expected  to  see  the 
brains  of  his  son  dashed  out,  found,  in  the  end,  that 
a  vicious  will  was  knocked  out  of  the  colt,  and  a  doc- 
ile, gentle  creature  was  the  result  of  the  operation. 
His  son  had  conceived  the  idea  of  breaking  the  colt, 
upon  wfcjcjf  no  attempt  of  tjje  kind  fcad  been 


276  REV.    JACOB    IDE. 

and  his  first  step,  without  consulting  his  father,  was  to 
bridle  the  animal  and  mount  his  back.  The  father 
was  so  well  gratified  with  the  outcome  of  the  affair, 
that,  subsequently,  he  appointed  Jacob  master  of  colt 
breaking. 

He  was  a  very  fine  horseman  even  in  his  youth. 
Frequent  exhibitions  of  his  horsemanship  were  notic- 
ed and  made  the  theme  of  remark.  Once  his  father 
lost  three  sheep,  which  strayed  away  several  miles, 
and  joined  a  flock  of  one  hundred.  On  hearing  of 
their  whereabouts,  Jacob  mounted  the  colt  and  drove 
to  the  big  flock  on  Seekonk  Plain,  found  his  three 
sheep,  separated  them  from  the  large  flock,  and  drove 
them  home,  without  alighting  from  the  animal.  This 
love  of  a  horse  and  knowledge  of  what  constitutes  a 
good  one,  went  with  him  into  manhood.  He  made 
no  pretensions  to  knowledge  on  this  subject,  and  yet 
his  parishioners  were  not  long  in  finding  out  that  he 
understood  the  horse  better  than  any  of  his  people. 
Often  they  applied  to  him  for  his  opinion  respecting 
horses  they  wished  to  buy.  When  he  was  ninety- 
four  years  old,  a  neighboring  clergyman  purchased  a 
horse,  and  called  upon  the  doctor  to  take  him  out  to 
ride.  He  was  very  much  surprised  to  hear  doctor 
Ide  speak  of  the  "fine  points"  of  the  noble  beast. 
Within  a  few  years  he  was  heard  to  say  in  a  vein  of 
pleasantly,  and  in  response  to  some  reference  to  his 
life  work,  I  have  broken  six  colts,  planted  four 
orchards  and  fitted  forty  young  men  for  the  ministy. 

During  these  years  of  hard  labor  on  tbc  farm,  he 

**•'  ""     '      **• 


REV.    JACOB    IDE.  277 

never  lost  his  desire  for  an  education,     He  was  an 
excellent  scholar,  and  improved  his  opportunities  from 
sincere  love  of  study,     His  conversion  to  Christ  at 
sixteen  years  of  age,   served  to   solidify  his  love  of 
learning,  and  give  it  direction  towards  the  ministry. 
He  aspired  to  a  collegiate  education,  and  whether  he 
should  enjoy  it  or  not,  the  following  feat  decided. 
On  the  morning  of  commencement  at  Brown  Univer- 
sity, Providence,  R,  I.,  when  he  was  nineteen  years 
of  agp,  he  arose  very  early,   cut  two  acres  of  stocks, 
walked  several  miles  to  attend  commencement  exer- 
cises, and  returned  before  the  day  was  wholly  passed. 
Between  that  commencement  and  the  next  one  he 
titted  for  college,  and  within  one  year  from  the  time 
he  cut  the  stocks  and  walked  the  seven  miles,  he  was 
a  member  of  Brown  University.     At  once  he  took 
rank  with  the  best  scholars  of  his  class  and  soon  out- 
stripped them.      His   mind  was  discriminating  and 
active,  never  cowering  before  the  hardest  problem  or 
most    difficult  lesson.       Industry,    application     and 
marked  natural  ability  won  for  him  an  enviable  name 
in  college.     He  studied  as  he   mowed  grass  and  cut 
stocks,  with  a  will,  putting  into  it  the  whole  force  of 
his  character.     He  was  the  valedictorian  of  his  class. 
And  here  should  be   recorded  a  fact  that  illustrates 
his  independence  of  character  as  well  as  his  conscien- 
tiousness.    It  Avas  the  custom  for  the  valedictorian  to 
furnish  intoxicating  liquors  at  the  class  supper.     He 
refused   to  furnish  the  liquors,  but   provided  other 
articles  at  equal  expense,  affirming  that  his  conscience 


278  REV.    JACOB   IDE. 

would  not  allow  him  to  supply  intoxicants.  Part  of 
the  class  were  very  much  incensed,  so  much  so,  that, 
when  the  valedictorian  addressed  them  at  commence- 
ment, they  refused  to  rise,  according  to  custom,  and 
kept  their  seats.  Young  Ide  was  equal  to  the  occa- 
sion, however,  and  this  impromptu  remark  startled 
both  the  faculty  and  assembly,  at  the  same  time  that  it 
rebuked  his  wine-loving  classmates,  "A  wise  man  may 
get  angry,  but  anger  resteth  in  the  bosom  of  fools," 
We  doubt  if  another  such  example  of  independence 
and  fidelity  to  duty  can  be  found  in  the  early  records 
of  the  temperance  reform.  Indeed,  that  occurred  be- 
fore the  temperance  reform  began.  It  was  seventy 
years  ago,  that  Jacob  Ide  thus  took  his  stand,  under 
the  most  trying  circumstances,  against  a  time-honor- 
ed but  perilous  custom.  The  incident  brings  forth  to 
the  recorder's  view  an  element  of  character  that  dis- 
tinguished the  subject  of  this  paper  through  his  long 
and  useful  life. 

Immediately  after  he  left  Brown  University  he  enter- 
ed Andover  Theological  Seminary,  in  the  second  class 
that  the  institution  received.  In  the  theological  sem- 
inary, as  in  college,  he  stood  at  the  head  of  his  class, 
and  was  valedictorian.  A  merchant  from  Boston  was 
present  at  the  Commencement  exercises,  and  he  was 
so  deeply  impressed  by  Ide's  address,  that  he  request- 
ed a  copy  of  it  for  a  keepsake,  as  "it  did  not  contain 
a  metaphor  or  figure  of  speech." 

For  a  brief  period  he  preached  in  Portsmouth,  N. 
||.,  wijere  tys  fteatyjj  fajle^  l#m,  an4  \&  wa^  compelled 


REV.    JACOB   IDE.  279 

to  withdraw  from  the  ministry  for  a  short  period.  A 
few  month's  rest,  however,  so  far  restored  him,  that 
he  accepted  a  call,  and  was  ordained  over  the  Con- 
gregational Church  in  West  Medway,  Mass.,  ill  Nov. 
1814. 

April  13,  1815,  he  married  Mary  Emmons,  of 
Franklin,  Mass,  daughter  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  Emmons, 
D.  D.  Eleven  children  were  born  to  them,  eight  sons 
and  three  daughters.  Two  sons  only,  of  all  the 
children,  survive  the  father,  Rev.  Jacob  Ide,  Jr.,  of 
Mansfield,  Mass.,  and  Rev.  Alexis  W.  Ide,  who  left 
his  people  at  Stafford  Springs,  Ct.,  twelve  years  ago, 
and  on  the  death  of  his  only  remaining  sister,  decided 
to  reside  with  care  for  his  parents  as  long  as  they  liv- 
ed. The  eldi-st  son  died  of  cholera  when  about  twen- 
ty-five years  old,  in  Boston,  where  he  was  located  in 
business.  The  youngest  son  was  killed  in  the  late 
war  of  the  rebellion.  One  daughter  married  Rev. 
Charles  Torrey,  who  became  a  famous  abolitionist  and 
died  in  B  iltirnore  j-iil,  where  he  was  incarcerated  for 
helping  slaves  to  their  liberty. 

In  the  ministry  he  won  a  wide  reputation  for  abili- 
ty and  devotion  to  his  work.  Both  as  pastor  and 
preacher  he  attracted  the  people  of  his  charge  and  se- 
cured their  implicit  confidence  for  his  life-time.  More 
than  fifty  years  he  ministered  to  this  one  people  be- 
fore he  had  a  colleague.  Over  sixty-five  years  he 
was  pastor  of  the  church — the  only  church  over  which 
he  was  ever  settled.  From  the  time  of  his  ordination 
to  the  present  day,  he  sb,arecl  the  love  and  confidence 


2'80  REV.    JACOB   IDE. 

of  his  people,  while  harmony  prevailed  among  them 
through  all  these  years. 

He  early  won  a  strong  position  among  theologians 
and  received  the  degree  of  D.  D.,  from  Brown  Uni- 
versity, in  18 — .  For  many  years  he  prepared  young 
men  for  the  ministry.  Forty-three  were  thus  train- 
ed by  him  personally  for  the  sacred  office. 

Dr.  Ide  possessed  certain  elements  of  character 
that  were  noticeable.  We  have  referred  to  one  of 
them,  viz.  ; 

Decision  or  independence,  always  the  outgrowth  of 
pious  conviction.  Soon  after  he  entered  the  ministry 
the  anti-slavery  and  temperance  causes  came  to  the 
front  and  great  excitement  prevailed.  Good  men  es- 
poused these  causes  at  imminent  risk  of  reputation 
and  position.  Ministers  did  their  duty  often  when 
their  peace,  salaries,  and  pastorates  were  hazarded. 
But  Rev.  Jacob  Ide  never  allowed  himself  to  be  influ- 
enced by  worldly  considerations.  He  flung  himself 
into  the  breach,  and  his  pulpit  dealt  faithful  blows 
upon  these  evils.  Slavery  found  no  mercy  at  his 
hands.  As  the  conflict  waxed  hot,  his  faith  in  its 
overthrow  grew  stronger,  and  his  assaults  upon  it 
were  more  vigorous.  Even  when,  further  on  in  the 
battle,  his  own  son-in-law  was  dying  in  the  Baltimore 
jail,  to  satiate  the  implacable  rage  of  slave  holders,  he 
did  not  modify  his  hostility  to  the  crime,  but  rather 
increased  his  opposition  thereto. 

So  with  his  hostility  to  Intemperance.  When  he 
was  ordained,  nearly  everybody  used  intoxicating 


REV.    JACOB    IDE.  281 

drinks.  They  were  freely  offered  to  ministers  when- 
ever they  called  among  their  people.  Refusal  to  take 
them  was  construed  into  an  affront.  Mr.  Ide  feared 
that  he  should  be  a  drunkard  like  a  good  many  of  his 
townsmen,  if  he  continued  to  drink  whenever  he  made 
calls.  He  decided  to  adopt  total  abstinence  at  once, 
went  into  his  pulpit  on  three  successive  Sabbath  morn- 
ings and  preached  upon  the  subject,  in  the  same  spir- 
it that  John  Knox  defended  the  truth  of  God.  Some 
of  his  hearers  were  outraged;  others  were  sorry;  all 
stared  and  wondered,  and  afterwards  talked  pro  and 
eou,  and  waited  for  an  explosion. 

But  their  pastor  was  neither  scared  nor  troubled ; 
and  he  carried  the  question  triumphantly,  making  his 
church  and  congregation  famous,  within  a  few  years, 
for  their  espousal  of  the  anti-slavery  and  temperance 
causes.  It  is  believed  that  the  three  sabbath  morning 
sermons  upon  Total  Abstinence  alluded  to,  were  the 
first  ever  preached  in  our  country.  It  was  mon-  than  ten 
years  before  total  abstinence  societies  were  organized, 
and  eight  years  before  Dr.  LymanBeecher  preached  his 
six  famous  sermons  on  temperance.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
we  discover  in  the  exciting  scenes  of  that  day,  the 
same  decision  that  charactt  rized  him  when  he  con- 
quered in  the  hayfield,  and  when  he  rebuked  his  class- 
mates before  a  commencement  audience  for  cowardly 
declining  to  stand  up  with  him  against  the  drink-cus- 
toms. 

In  this  connection  his  remarkable  amiability  de- 
serves mention.  It  is  not  often  that  a  person  is  very 


282  REV.    JACOB    IDE. 

amiable  and  very  decided  at  the  same  time.  But  in 
Dr.  Ide  the  union  of  the  two  was  perfect.  He  had 
an  established  reputation  for  amiability  among  his 
people  and  elsewhere.  No  one  could  tell  whether  he 
was  more  amiable  than  he  was  independent  or  more 
independent  than  he  was  amiable. 

Ui»  patience  was  proverbial.  One  has  said  of  him, 
"he  studied  self-control  as  much  as  he  did  theology." 
So  he  reduced  to  practice  the  Savior's  counsel ;  "In 
your  patience  possess  ye  your  souls."  Not  only  did 
he  possess  his  soul  in  patience,  but  patience  itself 
possessed  his  soul.  It  reigned  queen  of  that  domain. 
A  friend  could  say  to  him  as  the  angel  said  to  the 
church  of  Thyatira,  "  I  know  thy  patience  and  thy 
works."  Whoever  saw  him  petulant  or  testy? 
What  vexed  question  or  trouble  ever  ruffled  his  calm 
deliberation?  His  public  and  private  life  was  an  il- 
lustration of  the  text,  "But  let  patience  havener  per- 
fect work,  that  ye  may  be  perfect  and  entire,  wanting 
nothing."  Once  he  received  a  direct  insult,  and  a 
friend  inquired;  "Will  you  not  resent  it?"  Here- 
plied;  "Do  you  think  1  shall  do  what  will  injure 
myself? 

His  prudence  was  the  hand-maid  to  his  patience. 

He  performed  duty  without  rashness.  He  was 
careful  to  do  what  was  best  for  the  individual 
or  the  cause.  To  be  independent  and  prudent  re- 
quired nearly  as  much  skill  as  it  did  to  be  indepen- 
dent and  amiable  ;  but  he  accomplished  the  feat  with- 
out seeming  difficulty.  The  constant  aiid  beautiful 


REV.    JACOB   IDE.  283 

harmony  that  characterized  his  parish  is  proof  of  his 
skill  in  this  direction. 

Common  sense  was  another  quality  that  distin- 
guished him.  What  many  people  call  "sound  judg- 
ment" or  "practical  good  sen.se,"  was  prominent  in 
his  character.  He  never  spoiled  si  sermon  by  intro- 
ducing an  unwise  or  foolish  remark.  His  conversa- 
tion was  adapted  to  his  profession,  as  were  all  his 
acts.  He  recognized  the  fitness  of  things,  and  never 
forgot  that  he  was  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  So  he 
never  slopped  over.  In  the  pulpit  or  out,  everybody 
expected  to  hear  only  words  of  wisdom,  and  weight 
from  him,  and  to  witness  acts  corresponding. 

His  charity  wns  unpretentious,  yet  forcible.  He 
exercised  it  towards  all  men,  saints  and  sinners. 
The  erring  understood  that  he  would  feijl  for  them  to 
the  full  extent  of  fidelity  and  trnth  and  God.  He 
once  remarked  "He  who  understands  the  power  of 
human  passions  will  be  charitable  toward  the  tempt- 
ed.' This  generally  appeared  in  every  relation. 
Few  men  ever  lived  who  treated  the  idiosyncracies  of 
their  fellows  with  so  great  consideration.  He  allowed 
a  wide  margin  for  individuality  in  action,  style, 
thought  and  expression.  In  I  Cor.,  xiii ;  4 — 7,  there 
is  a  complete  description  of  the  man  in  this  ivgard. 
"Charity  suffereth  long  and  is  kind;  charity  envieth 
not ;  charity  vaunteth  not  itself,  is  not  puffed  up, 
doth  not  behave  itself  unseemly,  seeketh  not  her  own, 
is  not  easily  provoked,  thinketh  no  evil,  rejoiceth  not 
in  iniquity,  but  rejoiceth  in  the  truth ;  beareth  all 


284  REV.    JACOB   IDE. 

things,  believeth  all  things,  endureth  all  things." 
Dr.  Ide  possessed  a  reserved  power  of  wit,  known 
only  to  his  familiar  friends.  One  would  scarcely  look 
for  this  quality  among  such  staid  and  grave  attributes 
as  those  considered.  Nevertheless  it  was  there.  He 
seldom  used  it,  and  did  not  believe  in  using  it  very 
much.  At  times,  however,  he  called  it  into  requisition, 
when,  as  another  said,  "it  was  as  effective  as  nitro- 
glycerine." 

We  have  spoken  of  Dr.  Ide's  eminent  talents.  It 
remains  only  to  be  said  that  his  mind  was  logical  to 
a  fault.  A  man  who  can  write  a  commencement  ad- 
dress without  a  "metaphor  or  figure  of  speech,"  must 
be  intensely  logical.  We  can  scarcely  summon  such 
a  person  in  imagination  without  thinking  of  all  that  is 
solid,  grave  and  ponderous.  Nevertheless  Dr.  Ide 
was  really  practical  also.  A  man  of  sound  common 
sense  is  always  practical.  His  common  sense  is  what 
makes  him  practical.  The  logic  that  leads  to  practice 
is  the  best  kind  of  loiric;  and  the  practice  that  rests 
on  sound  logic  is  the  best  kind  of  practice.  And  such 
was  Dr.  Ide's  logical  mind  and  practical  life. 

Few  public  men  have  furnished  so  rare  a  dish  of 
"table  talk"  as  Dr.  Ide.  Many  of  his  wisest  and  best 
remarks  were  dropped  around  the  festive  board  or  in 
familiar  conversation  with  friends.  It  was  here  that 
he  sometimes  allowed  wit  to  lend  its  sparkle  to 
friendly  intercourse  and  enliven  themes  of  discussion 
that  otherwise  would  have  been  dry  and  heavy.  His 
superior  good  sense  appeared  to  advantage  in  such 


REV.    DORUS   CLARICE.  285 

circumstances  as  these.  There  are  many  of  the  ed- 
ucated class  as  well  as  of  the  common  people,  who 
now  cherish  examples  of  his  wise  sayings,  uttered  in 
familiar  intercourse,  when  the  dignity  of  study  and 
reflection  were  laid  aside. 

He  died  on  Monday,  January  5,  1880,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-four  years,  nine  months  and  six 
days. 


REV.    DORUS    CLARKE.  D.  D.,  CONGREGA- 
TIONALIST. 


THE  REV.  DORUS  CLARKE  was  born  in  Westhamp- 
ton,  Mass.,  Jan.  2,  1797.  His  parents  were  Jona- 
than Clarke,  Jr.  and  Jemima  [Kingsley]  Lyman  Jr., 
and  his  grandparents,  on  his  father's  side,  were  Jon- 
athan Clarke,  Jr.,  of  Northampton,  Mass.,  and  Sarah 
Strong,  of  Coventry,  Conn.  His  earliest  American 
ancestors,  on  the  paternal  side, -were  Lieut.  William 
Clarke,  and  Mary  Strong,  daughter  of  that  famous 
Puritan,  Elder  John  Strong,  all  of  Northampton. 
His  earliest  American  ancestors,  on  his  mother's  side, 
were  Richard  Lyman  and  Sarah  Osborne,  who  emi- 
grated to  this  country  in  1631,  and  became  members 
of  the  First  Church  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker. 

The  Rev.  Benjamin  W.  Dwight,  in  his  "History  of 
the  Pesoendanta  of  Elder  John  Strong,  of  . 

—     ••  -._.  ..  ,  .»  .-..  -          ......        •  ,  .-    -          -  -     •   W  ,    -__   yf 


286  REV.    DORUS    CLARKE. 

ampton,"  says  :  "The  descendants  of  Jonathan  Clarke 
and  Sarah  Strong  represent  more  lives  of  Strong  de- 
scent than  any  other  of  elder  John  Strong's  descen- 
dants, so  far  as  I  have  observed." 

1.  They  are  descended  twice  from  Mary  Strong, 
wife  of  deacon  John  Clarke,  of  Northampton  ;  through 
Nathaniel  Clarke,  their  son,  and  Mary  Clarke,  their 
daughter,  ^(  wife  of  Benjamin  Edwards,)  whose  daugh- 
ter, Thankful  Edwards,  married  Jonathan  Clarke,  son 
of  Nathaniel.  2.  They  are  also  descended  from 
Elizabeth  Strong,  sister  of  Mary,  above,  wife  of 
Joseph  Parsons,  Esq.,  of  Northampton,  whose  daugh- 
ter, Jemima  Parsons,  married  Samuel  Kingsley,  Jr. 
3.  and  4.  They  are  likewise  the  descendants  of  Jed- 
ediah  and  ihonuis,  (brother  of  Mary  and  Elizabeth,) 
through  Aaron  Strong,  (son  of  Preserved,  who  was 
son  of  Jedediah,)  and  Rachel  Strong,  daughter  of 
justice  Joseph  Strong,  son  of  Thomas. 

It  will  be  seen  by  this  geneolo*gical  statement  that 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  Puritan  of  the  Puritan-. 
He  lia.s  always  gloried  in  his  ancestry,  and  in  the 
soundness  of  their  theological  principles.  Edward 
Burke  said  that  "the  Puritanism  of  New  England  is 
the  Protestantism  of  the  Protestant  ivligion,"  and  Dr. 
Clarke  has  long  been  known  as  an  unwavering,  zeal- 
ous defender  and  advocate  of  the  religous  views  of 
his  ancestors.  He  holds,  that  no  other  system  of  re- 
ligions faith  can  ever  transform  the  fourteen  hundred 
millions  of  human  beings  who  now  inhabit  the  enrth, 
or  llicii1  dcswudauu,  into  the  lii'u  tiiid  likeue$3  of  God, 


REV.   DORUS   CLARKE.  287 

and  prepare  them  for  the  enjoyment  of  a  holy  heaven. 
Dr.  Clarke  was  graduated  at  Williams  College  in 
1817,  and  at  the  Theological  Seminary,  Andover,  in 
1820.  He  then  spent  some  time  with  that  excellent 
evangelist,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Asahel  Nettleton,  to  learn 
his  method  of  conducting  revivals  of  religion,  and 
with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Griffin,  then  president  of  Williams 
College,  to  prepare  himself  more  thoroughly  for  the 
duties  of  a  parish  minister.  February  5,  1823,  he 
was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in 
Blandford,  Mass.,  where  he  remained  twelve  years, 
and  his  labors  were  blessed  by  two  remarkable  out- 
pourings of  the  Holy  Spirit.  He  was  then  called  to 
be  the  first  pastor  of  an  infant  church  in  Springfield. 
Mass.,  (Chicopee  Falls.)  where  he  continued  six 
years.  Indifferent  health,  at  length  induced  him  to 
resign  his  pastorate  and  he  became  joint  proprietor  and 
editor  of  the  New  England  Puritan,  of  Boston,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  projectors.  When  he  was 
at  Blandfurd,  he  published  by  request,  a  discourse  on 
"The  true  foundation  of  Christian  hope,"  which  he 
delivered  at  the  ordination  of  his  brother,  the  Rev. 
'1  ertius  S.  C  larke,  over  the  church  and  society  in 
South  DeornVld,  Mass.  At  Springfield,  in  1836,  he 
published  a  volume  of  eight  "lectures  to  young  peo- 
ple," adapted  more  particularly  to  those  in  manufact- 
uring towns,  with  an  introduction  by  the  Rev.  Amos 
Blanehard,  D.  D.,  of  Lowell,*  Mass.  Two  editions 
of  these  lectures  were  published,  one  in  Boston  and 
Utf  otber  iu  Ktw  Yt*k.  iu  !$&*»  lie  {ttibUt&ed  over 


288  REV.    DOEUS   CLARKE. 

the  signature  "Clericus  Haiupdenensis,"  four  letters 
to  the  Hon.  Horace  Mann,  secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  upon  the  proper  relations  of  that  Board, 
then  recently  formed,  to  the  cause  of  religion  in  this 
commonwealth. 

In  1839,  he  published  a  "Sermon  upon  the  death 
of  William  L.  Wyman,  of  Brookline,  Vt."  who  was 
drowned  in  the  Chicopee  river.  After  five  years  of 
editorial  labor  upon  "The  New  England  Puritan,"  he 
sold  out  his  interest  in  that  paper  and  became  the  ed- 
itor and  proprietor  of  "The  Christian  Alliance  and 
Family  Visitor,"  and  afterwards  of  "  The  Christian 
Times,"  and  at  a  later  period  still  he  was  the  Boston 
editor  of  "The  Christian  Parlor  Magazine,*'  and 
"Merry's  Museum,"  published  in  New  York.  In 
1864,  he  published  an  octavo  volume  of  two  hundred 
and  thirty- five  pages,  entitled  "Fugitives  from  the 
Escritoire  of  a  Retired  Editor ;"  consisting  of  articles 
some  of  which  had  never  been  before  the  public,  and 
others  which  had  already  appeared  in  reviews  or  in 
pamphlet  form.  In  1866,  as  chairman  of  a  commit- 
tee appointed  for  the  purpose,  he  compiled  and  edited 
a  volume  of  eighty-five  pages,  entitled  "  A  Memorial 
of  the  Reunion  of  the  Natives  of  Westhampton,  Mass." 
In  1869,  his  "Oneness  of  the  Christian  Church,"  a 
volume  ot  one  hundred  and  five  pages,  made  its  ap- 
pearance, and  it  has  passed  through  two  editions. 
In  1871,  his  work,  entitled  "Orthodox  Congregation- 
alism and  the  Sects,"  a  volume  of  one  hundred  and 
,  was  plashed ,  Jn  18  7  $ ,  hepubjisjjgcl  i  u 


REV.    PORUS    CLARKE.  289 

several  numbers  of  "The  Vermont  Chronicle"  a  "Ke- 
view  of  the  Oberlin  Council,"  over  the  signature,  "A 
New  England  Congregatioualist."  In  1874,  he  pub- 
lished a  volume  on  "The  Revision  of  the  English  Ver- 
sion of  the  Bible,"  which  was  adopted  and  issued  by 
"The  American  Tract  Society,  Boston."  In  1875, 
"The  Life  and  Writings  of  P.  F.  G.  Guizot"— an  ar- 
ticle which  he  had  read  before  the  New  England  His- 
toric Genealogical  Society, — in  the  course  of  his  duty 
as  the  historiographer  of  that  institution — was  given  to 
the  public.  In  the  course  of  a  service  of  seven  years 
in  that  capacity,  Dr.  Clarke  prepared  and  read  no 
less  than  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  memoirs  of 
the  deceased  members  of  that  society — many  of  which, 
like  that  of  Dean  Mansel  of  England  and  Guizot  of 
France,  were  of  a  highly  elaborate  character,  and  most 
of  which  were  published  in  "The  New  England  Histor- 
ical and  Genealogical  Register."  In  1875,  he  also  wrote 
a  "Memoir  of  the  Rev.  James  Browning  Miles,  D.D., 
Corresponding  Secretary  of  'The  American  Peace  So- 
ciety,'" which  was  published  in  the  **  Advocate  of 
Peace."  In  1876,  he  published  in  the  Boston  Tran- 
script over  the  signature  of  "Justice,"  a  trenchant  re- 
view of  the  "Advisory  Council,"  then  recently  .held 
in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y,,  in  the  famous  Beocher  trial.  In 
1877,  he  read  an  article  which  must  have  cost  him  a 
great  amount  of  research,  on  the  thesis, — "  What  is 
the  True  Idea  of  the  Tri-Unity  of  God  ?''  before  the 
minister's  meeting  in  Pilgrim  Hall,  Congregational 
wliici*  was  published  by  veque^i  oi'tbat 


290  REV.    DORUS    CLARKE. 

body.  In  1878,  Dr.  Clarke  delivered  an  address  on 
"Saying  the  Catechism  seventy-five  years  ago,  and  the 
Historical  Results,"  which  was  published  and  widely 
circulated  and  favorably  noticed  by  some  two  hundred 
newspapers  of  the  country;  and  in  1879,  he  delivered 
"A  Centennial  Discourse  in  Westhampton,  Mass.,  on 
the  One  Hundreth  Anniversary  of  the  Formation  ofthe 
Church  in  that  town,"  These  facts  show  that  his 
facile  pen  has  been  actively  employed  upon  a  wide 
variety  of  subjects,  and  upon  topics  of  the  profound- 
eat  interest. 

His  style  is  remarkable  for  its  terseness,  purity, 
and  force.  Nobody  can  misapprehend  his  meaning. 
His  ideas  have  been  said  to  "lie,  with  transparent 
clearness,  on  the  top  of  the  paper."  As  he  has  en- 
deavored to  act  under  the  most  conscientious  convic- 
tions of  duty,  the  presumption  is,  that  he  has  probably 
written — 

"Xo  line  which,  (tying,  he  would  wish  to  blot.'' 

Though  Dr.  Clarke  is  now  in  the  eighty-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  his  step  is  elastic,  his  mind  is  vigor- 
ous and  his  memory  retentive  ;  and  with  his  habitual 
close  observance  of  the  laws  of  health,  he  gives  evi- 
dence that  several  years  more  may  be  added  to  bis  ac- 
tive and  useful  life. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


REV.   WILLIAM  HAGUE,    D.   D.,    BAPTIST. 


[SELECTED  FROM  THE  MEMORIAL  OF  HIS  LATE  CHARGE 
IN  BOSTON,  BY  DR.  HAGUE'S  PERMISSION.] 

REV.  WILLIAM  HAGUE,  D.  D.,  was  born  January 
4,  1808.  The  family  resided  at  Pelham,  N.  Y., 
until  the  death  of  his  grandfather,  when  they  re- 
moved to  New  York  ;  and  though  they  found  a  home 
in  Spring  Street,  yet  Sabbath  morning  found  them  in 
the  Oliver  Street  Baptist  Church,  where,  up  to  the 
time  that  William  entered  college,  the  family  listened 
to  the  excellent  ministrations  of  Rev.  John  Williams, 
father  of  Rev.  William  R.  Williams,  D.  D.,  so 
well  known  wherever  English  Literature  is  honored, 
and  pulpit  eloquence  is  admired. 

At  five  years  of  age  William  was  placed  at  a  board- 
ing-school in  New  Canaan,  Conn.,  where  he  had  for 
a  teacher  the  mother  of  Rev.  Dr.  Richards,  presi- 
identofthe  Theological  Seminary  at  Auburn.  He 
fitted  for  Columbia  College,  but  was  induced  to  ac- 
company some  young  companions  to  Hamilton  Col- 
lege, Clinton,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  which  he  en- 
tered the  third  term  of  the  Sophomore  year  ia 


292   ^  REV.    WILLIAM   HAGUE. 

His  second  birth  occurred  in  the  year  intervening 
between  the  academy  and  the  college.  He  had  lis- 
tened to  a  sermon  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Elting  from 
the  text,  "If  I  had  not  come  and  spoken  to  them,  they 
had  not  had  sin."  As  he  went  out  of  church,  the 
truth  flashed  into  his  mind,  "  This  salvation  is  either 
all  or  nothing."  He  sought  no  conversation,  but 
went  to  his  room,  spying  "This  coming  to  Christ  is 
somewhat  mystical.  How  can  it  be  made  a  practical 
thing?"  On  opening  his  New  Testament,  his  eye  fell 
upon  the  story  of  the  leper,  and  there  he  found  the 
lamp  which  lighted  his  feet  to  the  cross.  Having 
found  Jesus,  he  at  once  confessed  his  name,  but  did 
not  profess  the  faith  for  many  months.  His  father, 
though  a  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school,  .'ind 
at  times  a  lay  preacher,  never  joined  the  church.  The 
reason  f«.r  this  it  is  difficult  to  give.  The  time  never 
came,  or  he  never  accepted  the  opportunity.  Short- 
ly after  his  conversion  William  accompanied  his  fath- 
er to  England,  and  spent  two  mouths  with  his  grand- 
father, Rev.  William  Hague,  after  whom  he  was 
named,  then  residing  in  Scarborough,  Yorkshire. 

On  his  return  he  entered  college,  as  before  stated, 
nearly  two  years  in  advance.  He  joined  at  once  the 
Theological  Society,  and  spent  a  year  in  investigating 
the  church  question.  An  impulse  in  this  direction 
quickened  his  zeal  in  the  study  of  Greek,  so  that  for 
the  junior  year  he  had  the  Greek  oration,  and  for  the 
senior  the  Greek  essay,  and  won  in  the  college  the 
appellation. ..of  "The  Jjitifa  -Oreek^  He  was  bap- 


EEV.    WILLIAM  HAGUE.  293 

tized  by  Spencer  H.  Cone,  D.  D.,  in  June,  1825, 
into  the  fellowship  of  the  Oliver  Street  Baptist 
Church,  New  York. 

His  introduction  to  the  ministry  was  as  unpreten- 
tious as  it  was  providential.  He  was  making  a  ped- 
estrian tour  through  western  New  York  during  his 
senior  year  in  college,  and  while  journeying  from 
Rome  to  Florence,  stopped  at  a  clearing  in  the 
midst  of  a  ten-mile  wood  to  obtain  refreshment.  The 
occupant  of  the  cabin  proved  to  be  a  Christian  wom- 
an, who,  upon  seeing  some  tracts  in  his  hat,  asked 
him,  "Are  you  a  minister?"  He  replied,  "I  am  not." 
"A  Christian?"  He  explained  that  he  was  a  student  at 
Hamilton  College,  and  that  he  loved  Christ.  "You 
are  minister  enough  for  us  ;  stay,  and  I  will  send  for 
the  men,  and  we  will  have  a  season  of  prayer,  for," 
said  she,  with  a  knowing  twinkle  of  the  eye,  and  in 
a  manner  that  showed  her  determination,  "prayer  and 
provender  hinder  no  man."  He  complied  with  her 
request  as  best  he  could.  Under  the  shadow  of  this 
Christian  act  he  walked  on  to  Florence,  where  on  the 
following  day  be  was  to  preach  his  first  sermon.  He 
stopped  with  Roger  Maddock,  an  old  family  friend, 
and  found  that  a  deep  religious  interest  was  pervad- 
ing the  place.  The  people  gathered  on  the  Sabbath 
in  an  unfinished  building,  and  he  went  with  them  to 
worship  (Jod.  His  surprise  can  be  imagined,  when 
the  preacher  announced,  without  consultation,  that 
his  young  friend  would  preach  in  the  afternoon.  The 
embarrassment  of  the  occasion  was  surmounted,  and 


294  REV.    WILLIAM  HAGUE. 

he  preached  from  John  xiv.  23,  "If  a  man  love  me, 
he  will  keep  my  words."  That  event  decided  his 
destiny. 

His  previous  desire,  and  the  aim  of  his  life,  as  he 
has  since  remarked,  was  to  study  law,  and  to  distin- 
guish himself  at  the  bar.  He  had  been  urged  by  Hon. 
Daniel  L.  Barnes  to  teach  an  academy  at  a  salary  of 
$1,000  per  annum — a  much  larger  sum  than  could 
be  realized  by  preaching  ;  and  he  was  hesitating  as  to 
duty  when  the  door  thus  opened  before  him,  and  he 
commenced  his  life-work. 

Accordingly,  he  studied  at  Princeton  a  year,  and 
then  entered  Newton  in  1828,  and  graduated  in  the 
regular  course.  Being  sent  on  a  supply  to  Salem, 
while  at  Newton,  he  was  welcomed  to  the  ever  hos- 
pitable home  of  John  Moriarty,  Esq.,  for  twenty 
years  cashier  of  the  Salem  bank,  and  Treasurer  of 
the  Translation  Society,  where  he  met  for  the  first 
time  his  daughter,  Miss  Mary  Bowditch  Moriarty, 
who  in  October,  1831,  became  his  wife,  and  has  been 
the  life-long  partner  of  his  joys  and  triumphs. 

Having  graduated  from  Newton,  he  received  a  call 
from  the  First  church,  Providence,  but  declined  it  in 
favor  of  the  church  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  which  he  had  fre- 
quently visited,  and  for  which  he  had  formed  au  ardent 
attachment  in  his  college  days.  He  was  ordained  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry  when  but  twenty-one  years 
of  age;  and  Rev.  B.  T.  Welch,  D.  D.,  his  predeces- 
sor at  Albany,  preached  the  sermon. 

By  the  end  of  the  first  year  his  throat  was  affected, 


REV.    WILLIAM   HAGUE.  295 

and,  having  lost  his  voice,  he  resigned  his  pastorate 
with  a  view  of  accepting  the  Professorship  of  Lan- 
guages in  Georgetown  College,  Ky.  On  arriving  at 
the  college,  a  coincidence  of  t\vo  things  occurred, 
which  changed  the  plan  of  his  life,  and  retained  him 
in  the  pulpit.  His  throat  was  healed,  and  he  re- 
ceived an  invitation  to  visit  the  First  Baptist  church 
in  Boston.  He  accepted  the  call,  and  was  installed 
in  January,  1831,  liev.  Dr.  Francis  Wayland  preach- 
ing the  sermon. 

His  ministry  at  the  First  church  was  an  unbroken 
success  of  seven  years'  duration.  He  was  at  the  time 
but  twenty-three  years  of  age.  He  preached  without 
notes,  and  his  social  and  pulpit  power  told  with  great 
effect,  reviving  in  the  memory  of  the  aged  the  best  days 
of  Stillman,  and  filling  the  deserted  seats  with  earn- 
est worshippers.  Hon.  J.  M.  S.  Williams  was  then 
a  noisy  boy  in  the  Sabbath-school,  in  days  when  the 
rod  was  freely  used,  and  moral  suasion  was  little  un- 
derstood. The  young  pastor  heard  of  the  trouble- 
some lad,  went  to  him  with  friendly  counsel,  reached 
his  heart,  stimulated  within  him  a  desire  for  a  higher 
life,  and  led  him  to  Christ.  What  was  true  of  him, 
was  equally  true  of  many  others.  A  similar  work 
was  awaiting  him  at  Providence,  whither  he  went  in 
1837,  at  the  urgent  solicitation  of  Dr.  Wayland  and 
the  First  Baptist  church.  There  he  began  to  write 
sermons.  Circumstances  compelled  him  to  exert  his 
powers  to  the  utmost  to  meet  the  demands  of  the 
hour.  Never  was  a  man  more  sought  for  abroad, 


REV.    WILLIAM  HAGUE. 

never  was  one  more  popular  at  home.  Those  who 
had  found  an  attraction  elsewhere  returned,  and  were 
brought  through  his  instrumentality  into  the  baptist 
fold.  He  there  felt  the  -need  of  a  colleague.  He 
found  it  impossible,  as  did  Chalmers  in  Glasgow,  to 
unite  the  labor  of  preparation  for  the  pulpit  with  the 
labor  of  household  visitation  in  the  parish.  At  this 
time  he  visited  Europe,  and  came  in  contact  with  the 
culture  and  discipline  that  put  a  still  keener  edge 
upon'  the  Damascus  blade  which  he  has  'wielded  with 
such  effect  in  the  warfare  ever  raging  between  the 
hosts  of  error  and  the  friends  of  truth.  While  at 
Providence,  he  delivered  the  second  centennial  ad-^ 
dress,  which  has  passed  as  an  authority  into  the  mar- 
ginal references  of  the  standard  histories  in  Germany. 
The  church  in  Federal  Street,  Boston,  called  him 
in  1840  to  go  with  them,  and  help  build  Kowe  Street, 
stating  in  their  letter  that  if  he  declined,  they  should 
feel  it  their  duty  to  disband.  He  felt  that  he  must 
heed  their  request,  though  he  feared  the  result  of  re- 
turning to  a  city  which  he  had  left  with  profound  re- 
gret, and  of  coming  so  near  a  church  which  he  had 
served  with  such  delight.  The  blessing  of  the  Lord 
attended  him.  Howe  Street  Baptist  Church  was 
built,  and  after  nearly  seven  yearsof  labor,  he  accepted 
a  call  to  the  church  in  Jamaica  Plain,  Mass.  After  two 
years,  he  was  invited  by  thirty-nine  persons  convened 
in  a  parlor  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  to  watch  over,  instruct, 
and  lead  them.  He  went,  and  soon  the  Kinney  Street 
Church  was  built  and  crowded,  and  the  foundations 


REV.    WILLIAM  HAGUE.  297 

of  their  mission  work  laid,  which  even  now  excites 
the  admiration  of  every  beholder. 

The  health  of  Dr.  Hague's  family  made  a  change 
imperative.  Accordingly,  in  1852  he  accepted  the 
call  of  the  Pearl  Street  church,  Albany,  N.  Y.  Alba- 
ny was  his  home.  The  pastor  and  people  were  adapt- 
ed to  work  together.  The  Pearl  Street  Baptist 
Church  had  wealth,  culture,  position,  and  best  of  all, 
piety.  Dr.  Hague  loved  them,  and  was  loved  by 
them.  He  was  the  shepherd,  and  the  flock  heard  his 
voice.  He  inaugurated  the  system  of  placing  upon 
the  altar  each  Sabbath  morning  an  offering  for  mis- 
sions. The  result  was,  the  church  raised  large  sums, 
and  developed  new  power.  Out  of  that  effort  grew 
those  chapels  which  paved  the  way  for  flourishing 
churches,  and  which  enabled  them  to  dispense  their 
benefactions  with  so  lavish  a  hand.  Again,  it  was 
apparent  that  he  desired  not  to  live  for  himself.  He 
embraced  the  wants  of  the  city  in  his  calculations, 
and  at  once  set  about  meeting  them  as  best  he  could. 
Here  was  preached  a  series  of  sermons  to  crowded 
houses,  which,  under  the  title  of  "Home  Life,"  were 
gathered  into  a  volume,  and  dedicated  to  the  memory 
of  a  noble  son,  "who,  on  the  31st  of  October,  1854, 
at  the  age  of  twenty  years  and  three  months,  was 
called  away  from  the  scenes  of  earth  to  his  home  in 
heaven." 

In  1855  he  gave  to  the  world  another  volume, 
entitled  "Christianity  and  Statesmanship,"  which  con- 
tains* among  other  able  papers,  his  theory  of  christi- 


298  EEV.    WILLIAM  HAGUE. 

anity  and  pauperism,  Christianity  and  liberal  giving, 
Christian  union,  and  Christianity  and  slavery.  To  the 
discussion  of  each  theme  he  has  brought  the  results 
of  thorough  research  and  diligent  study,  which  con- 
denses into  a  single  paper  material  sufficient  for  a 
volume,  and  makes  the  treatment  of  the  subject  a 
landmark  in  literature.  His  "Christianity  and  Sla- 
very" is  a  review  and  much  more,  of  the  book  enti- 
tled "Fuller  and  Wayland  on  Slavery,"  and  an  out- 
line of  what  he  conceived  to  be  the  true  view  to  be 
taken  of  that  absorbing  subject.  It  is  sufficient  praise 
to  say  of  it,  that,  now  that  slavery  is  overthrown  and 
its  funeral  dirge  sung,  there  is  not  a  word  that  needs 
to  be  altered,  not  a  sentiment  that  his  warmest  friend 
would  be  glad  to  see  suppressed.  As  we  said  at  the 
outset,  he  is  by  nature  as  by  position  a  watchman. 
This  volume  shows  it.  His  "Christianity  and  States- 
manship "  is  the  unfolding  of  the  rise  and  progress  of 
this  conflict  between  Christianity  and  the  statesman- 
ship of  the  world,  which  sets  itself  in  array  against 
that  divinely  anointed  King,  in  whom  their  hopes 
are  centred,  and  against  whom  it  contends  in  vain. 
Let  us  remember  that  shortly  nfter  the  Fugitive  Slave 
Law  had  passed,  when  Sumner  lay  bleeding  on  the 
floor  of  the  Senate,  this  watchman  never  neglected  to 
give  his  cry  of  warning,  saying,  ' '  Our  national  des- 
tiny turns  on  the  question  whether  American  Chris- 
tians shall  or  shall  not  be  faithful  to  God  and  humanity, 
in  using  aright  this  gift  of  freedom."  On  this  rock 
he  planted  himself  at  the  outset,  and  deserves  the 


REV.    WILLIAM  HAGUE.  299 

credit    of   being    an    abolitionist    before    the   war. 

His  utter  fearlessness  is  an  element  of  his  strength. 
In  his  early  manhood  he  took  a  prominent  part  in 
the  most  exciting  discussions  at  our  national  anniver- 
saries, and  the  oldest  and  most  experienced  leaders 
felt  that  he  was  an  opponent  hard  to  be  beaten. 

He  has  always  been  an  independent  thinker,  refus- 
ing to  follow  the  popular  current  when  his  own  judg- 
ment and  conscience  could  not  go  with  it.  He  had 
courage  to  stand  alone,  and  firmness  to  defend  an 
unpopular  cause.  He  preferred  right  to  success,  and 
patiently  waited  for  the  turn  of  the  tide  when  it  set 
against  him.  On  several  memorable  occasions  he 
differed  from  the  great  majority  of  the  denomination  ; 
but,  while  bowing  to  their  decision,  he  swerved  not 
from  his  own  convictions,  nor  feared  to  advocate 
them  against  overwhelming  numbers. 

He  stood  with  the  few  who  were  reluctant  to  aban- 
don the  American  Bible  Society.  When  others  were 
swept  away  in  the  Knapp  excitement,  he  was  firm 
and  resolute.  Even  in  the  intense  enthusiasm  which 
greeted  the  birth  of  the  Missionary  Union,  he  was 
calm  and  self-poised,  criticising  elements  in  the 
organization  which  he  thought  alien  to  the  spirit  and 
methods  of  Baptist  churches. 

Dr.  Hague  appears  to  great  advantage  on  the  plat- 
form, and  has,  perhaps,  no  superior  in  the  denomina- 
tion as  a  speaker  on  public  occasions.  His  large 
knowledge  of  men ;  his  familiarity  with  social  move- 
ments and  the  causes  which  control  them ;  his  fertility 


300  KEV.   WILLIAM  HAGUE. 

of  thought  and  illustration  ;  his  quick  perception  and 
ready  repartee  ;  his  command  of  language,  which  never 
fails  to  put  the  right  word  in  the  right  place  ;  and  his 
earnest  manner,  in  which  eye,  and  face,  and  hand,  and 
body,  all  perform  their  part, — make  him  master  of 
any  assembly. 

These  characteristics  made  his  friends  in  New  York 
anxious  to  secure  his  aid  in  an  enterprise  which  seem- 
ed essential  to  the  prosperity  of  the  cause  of  Christ. 
He  left  Albany  debilitated  by  dyspepsia,  suffering 
from  the  loss  of  his  son,  but  firm  in  heart  and  resolute 
in  purpose .  Through  his  instrumentality  the  meeting- 
house of  the  Madison  Avenue  Baptist  Church  was 
built.  The  war  came  on,  and  financial  disaster  threat- 
ened to  carry  the  house  out  of  the  hands  of  the  deno- 
mination. To  save  it,  the  Oliver  Street  Baptist 
Church  were  invited  to  unite  with  the  Madison  Avenue 
Baptist  Church.  The  property  was  saved,  and  Dr. 
Hague  was  suffered  to  retire.  From  New  York  he 
came  to  the  Charles  Street  Baptist  Church,  and  for 
the  third  time  became  a  pastor  in  Boston.  There  he 
remained  nearly  three  years,  until  April,  1865,  when 
he  accepted  the  call  of  the  Shawmut  Avenue  Baptist 
Church,  succeeding  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Parker,  D.  D. 
Review  the  work  achieved  by  this  one  man,  in  New- 
ark. Albany,  and  in  Boston,  to  say  nothing  of  Provi- 
dence and  New  York,  and  you  behold  results  sufficient 
in  each  place  to  make  a  monument  worthy  of  the 
exertions  of  a  life  time. 


REV.    THOMAS   WILLIAMS.  301 

REV.   THOMAS   WILLIAMS,    CONGREGA- 
TIONALIST. 


REV.  THOMAS  WILLIAMS  was  born  in  Pomfret, 
Conn.,  in  1779,  Nov.  5.  He  was  the  son  of  Joseph 
and  Lucy  Williams.  He  entered  Williams  College 
in  1795,  but  went  to  New  Haven  in  1798,  and  grad- 
uated at  Yale  College  in  1800.  He  studied  theology 
with  Dr.  Emmons  six  weeks  in  1804.  He  taught  in 
Beverly,  Mass.,  Woodstock  and  Norwich,  Conn., 
and  in  Boston  in  1800-3.  In  May  16,  1804,  he  was 
ordained  as  an  evangelist  at  Killingly,  Conn.  He 
was  appointed  as  Home  Missionary  in  New  York  in 
1803-5.  He  preached  in  Branford,  Conn.,  in  1806 
from  May  to  September.  He  was  acting  pastor  of 
Pacific  Church,  Providence,  R.  I.,  1807,  Jan.,  to 
1816,  April.  He  was  installed  at  Foxborough,  Mass. , 
1816,  Nov.  6  ;  dismissed  1821,  November,  but  pre- 
viously had  become  again  acting  pastor  of  his  former 
charge  in  Providence  1821,  July,  to  1823,  August, 
installed  at  Attleborough,  Mass.,  in  1824,  Sept.  29  ; 
dismissed  (by  mutual  consent,  without  council)  in 
1827,  Dec.  11,  and  became  acting  pastor  of  a  Union 
church  in  Hebronville,  same  town,  and  remained  till 
April,  1830.  He  held  missionary  service  in  Provi- 
dence and  vicinity,  1830-34.  He  was  acting  pastor 
in  Harrington,  11.  I.,  1835,  May,  to  March  1838.  He 
was  without  a  charge  in  Providence  in  the  antumn  of 
1838,  but  labored  widely  as  opportunity  offered.  He 
had  not  less  than  2,200'  preaching  services,  from 


302  REV.    THOMAS   WILLIAMS. 

April  1840,  to  November,  1868.  Resided  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  1839-40,  and  East  Greenwich,  R.  I., 
1840-3,  returning  in  September  to  Providence,  and 
there  continued  till  his  death.  In  1814  Brown  Uni- 
versity conferred  upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of 
A.  M.  He  published  many  sermons  on  important 
subjects;  in  Hartford  in  1810,  "A  Discourse  on 
National  Thanksgiving  for  Peace"  ;  in  1816  in  Pro- 
vidence, "Ordination  Sermon  of  Rev.  Emerson  Paine, 
in Middleboro',  Mass.,  Feb.  14."  In  1817,  May  15th, 
A  discourse  at  a  public  meeting  of  the  signers  in  the 
North  Parish,  Wrentham.  In  1823,  Jan.  1st,  "A 
Sermon  at  the  dedication  of  the  meeting-house  in 
Foxboro."  In  1823,  March  2nd,  "in  the  Pacific 
Congregational  meeting  house,  a  sermon  on  Lord's 
Day,  (Psalmody)  ;  an  explicit  avowal  of  Nothingari- 
anism  ;"  and  a  great  many  other  books,  sermons,  and 
memoirs. 

Mr.  Williams  married,  May  20,  1812,  Ruth,  the 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Ruth  (Jewett)  Hale,  of  New- 
bury,  Mass.  She  died  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  March 
7,  1867.  They  had  seven  children.  Mr.  Williams 
died  of  old  age  September  29,  1876,  aged  ninety-six 
years,  ten  months  and  twenty-four  days.  Since  the 
death  of  Timothy  Bishop,  of  New  Haven,  1873, 
March  6,  he  had  been  the  senior  surviving  graduate 
of  Yale  College,  and  he  was  the  last  living  graduate 
of  an  American  college  in  the  eighteenth  century. 

Thomas  Williams  was  a,  very  remarkable  man  in 
many  respects.  While  at  Yale  college  ho  injured  iiis 


REV.    THOMAS   WILLIAMS.  303 

health  studying  Enfield's  Astronomy.  All  of  a  sud- 
den he  jumped  upon  the  table  and  said  to  his  room- 
mate, "I  am  the  centre  revolve,  revolve."  His  room-? 
mate  was  frightened  and  went  for  President  Dwight. 
As  soon  as  the  president  appeared  at  his  door,  Wil- 
liams said,  "Dr.  Dwight,  I  am  the  centre  revolve, 
revolve,"  and  as  the  doctor  did  not  start  on  his  revo- 
lution, Williams  seized  him  with  a  view  to  make  him 
revolve,  and  from  that  time,  till  his  death  at  the  age 
of  ninety-six  years,  he  was  subject  to  partial  derange- 
ment every  spring.  When  Mr.  Williams  was  not  too 
much  excited  he  preached  better  than  at  any  other 
time.  While  I  was  at  college  he  used  to  come  every 
few  months  and  preach  in  the  old-  Richmond  Street 
Congregational  Church  in  Providence,  where  he  was 
once  its  pastor.  All  the  students  used  to  attend  and 
the  house  was  always  filled.  His  favorite  theme *vas, 
"the  universal  agency  of  God"  ;  and  when  he  preached 
on  this  subject  the  whole  audience  would  be  in  tears. 
He  had  a  keen  mind  and  a  ready  wit. 

Fifty  years  ago  much  was  said  among  the  ministers 
about  the  taste  and  exercise  schemes.  I  recollect  one 
occasion  of  a  council  examining  a  candidate  for  ordi- 
nation when  at  least  half  an  hour  was  spent  in  perplex- 
ing the  candidate  with  questions  upon  these  subjects. 
At  length  Mr.  Williams  settled  the  matter  by  asking 
the  following  question  :  "Did  you  ever  know  a  man 
have  repentance  without  exercising  it  ?  " 

Mr.  Williams  never  liked  Prof.  Stuart  of  Andover. 
Their  minds  were  too  nearly  alike.  Mr.  Stuart 


KEY.    THOMAS   WILLIAMS. 

preached  the  annual  election  sermon  in  the  Old  South 
Church  from  the  text :  "If  any  man  lack  wisdom,  let 
him  ask  of  God  and  it  shall  be  given  him."  Going  out 
of  the  church,  I  said  to  Mr.  Williams  :  "What  do  you 
think  of  that  sermon?"  He  quickly  replied,  "he 
made  it  evident  enough  that  one  man  lacks  wisdom." 

About  the  time  of  the  separation  of  the  Orthodox 
from  the  Unitarians,  they  had  several  meetings,  in 
which  they  discussed  the  subject  of  creeds.  Mr. 
Williams,  at  one  of  these  meetings  held  in  the  "Old 
South  Church,"  took  the  side  of  the  I'nitarians  and 
spoke  against  creeds.  He  was  in  the  habit  of  carry-, 
ing  a  large  black  cane.  He  arose,  Avith  the  cane  un- 
der his  arm.  He  first  began  to  move  his  hand,  and,  as 
he  grew  animated  to  swing  his  cane.  His  speech  was 
a  powerful  one  and  pleased  the  Unitarians  much.  In 
the  midst  of  it  Rev.  Mr.  Goodwin,  then  settled  in 
Sandwich,  a  Unitarian  clergyman  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary ability,  said  to  me  "Who  is  that?"  I  replied, 
"that  is  the  Rev.  Thomas  Williams,  a  kind  of  connect- 
ing link  between  angels  and  men."  "I  believe  it," 
said  Mr.  Goodwin,  "and  that  speech  was  from  the 
angelic  part  of  him. " 

In  1844  I  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  Pilgrimage 
Church  a  few  weeks.  They  then  had  two  Orthodox 
churches  in  Plymouth.  I  stopped  with  Dr.  Timothy 
Gordon,  one  of  the  deacons  of  the  Pilgrimage  Church. 
Mrs.  Gordon  said  to  me  one  day,  "don't  you  think 
they  have  got  old  crazy  Williams  preaching  to  that 
other  church."  I  said  *  "Mrs.  Gordon  \  did  you  ever 


REV.    THOMAS   WILLIAMS.  305 

see  Mr.  Williams ?"  She  replied,  "no;  nor  I  don't 
want  to."  I  said,  "I  should  like  to  invite  him  here  to 
tea  some  afternoon  with  your  leave."  She  said,  "you 
may  if  you  wish  to."  I  invited  him  and  he  came  and 
spent  the  afternoon.  After  he  left  I  said,  "Mrs.  Gor- 
don, what  do  you  think  of  Mr.  Williams  now?"  She 
said,  "I  never  got  half  so  much  information  from  any 
man  in  the  same  length  of  time  before." 

Mr.  Williams  preached  for  me  a  Sabbath  in  Stough- 
ton  in  1845.  In  the  morning  he  preached  an  excel- 
lent sermon.  Everybody  was  delighted  with  it.  In 
the  afternoon  he  branched  off  on  the  peculiarities  and 
heterodoxy  of  the  Boston  ministers.  He  wandered 
considerably  in  his  harangue  and  preached  two  hours. 

It  was  reported  that  while  he  was  in  Foxboro,  the 
town  got  in  such  a  quarrel  that  they  could  do  no  busi- 
ness at  the  town  meeting.  Some  one  proposed  that 
they  send  for  Mr.  Williams  to  offer  prayer.  He 
came,  ascended  the  pulpit  and  repeated  the  Lord's 
prayer.  Some  one  said,  "Mr.  Williams,  why  didn't 
you  offer  a  longer  prayer?"  "Surely,"  said  Mr.  Wil- 
liams, "no  one  could  pray  to  suit  such  a  motley  crowd, 
and  no  one  ought  to  object  to  the  Lord's  prayer." 

After  my  pastorate  ceased  in  Quincy,  I  supplied 
the  pulpit  in  East  Randolph,  now  Holbrook.  At  one 
time  Mr.  Williams  had  preached  a  previous  Sabbath. 
I  stopped  with  Mr.  French  near  the  church.  Mrs. 
French  was  a  careful,  neat  housekeeper,  and,  as  is 
often  the  case  in  the  country,  had  two  sets  of  curtains 
to  the  windows  in  her  front  chamber.  She  said,  "I 


306  REV.    GEORGE   PUNCHARD. 

sent  Mr.  Williams  up  there  last  Saturday,  and  when 
I  went  up  afterwards,  I  found  he  had  pulled  down 
every  curtain  from  the  windows,  and  they  laid  upon 
the  floor,  but  that  was  not  all,"  said  she,  "for  he  gave 
me  a  smart  scolding  for  putting  them  up/'  He  said, 
"People  did  not  live  out  half  their  days  because  they 
darkened  their  rooms  by  shutting  out  the  blessed 
light  of  Heaven." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons  of  Franklin  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Williams  were  always  on  good  terms.  Their  religious 
sentiments  were  similar.  It  was  agreed  between  them 
that  if  one  of  them  died  the  survivor  should  preach 
his  funeral  sermon.  Dr.  Emmons  died  first.  Mr. 
Williams  had  prepared  the  sermon  before  his  decease, 
and  everybody  has  heard  of  the  expression  of  Mr. 
Williams  when  Dr.  Emmons  objected  to  some  com- 
mendation which  it  contained  of  him,  when  Mr.  Will- 
iams read  it  to  him  before  his  decease.  "That  is  too 
much,"  said  Dr.  Emmons.  "Stop,"  said  Mr.  Will- 
iams, "you  have  nothing  to  say,  remember  you  are 
dead."  No  man  ever  doubted  Mr.  Williams'  piety. 


REV.    GEORGE  PUNCHARD,    CONGREGA- 
TIONALIST. 


[By  ins  PASTOR,  REV.  F.  A.  WAUFIELD.] 
REV.  GEORGE  PUNCHARD  was  born  in  Salem,  Mass., 
in  June  7,  1800,  where  for  generations  the  name  had 
been  held  in  great  honor.     The  man  of  that  name 


REV.    GEORGE   PUNCHARD.  307 

who  first  came  to  Salem  was  a  Huguenot,  probably 
from  the  Channel  Islands,  where,  about  1660,  a  com- 
pany of  persons  came  to  Salem. 

Some  of  the  blood  of  those  steadfast  disciples 
probably  flowed  in  his  veins.  He  was  the  youngest 
of  a  family  of  eleven  children,  six  of  Avhom  had  died 
previous  to  his  birth. 

Mr.  Punchard  entered  Dartmouth  College  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  there  being  but  two  younger  mem- 
bers in  the  class.  His  first  year  in  college  was  sad- 
dened by  the  death  of  a  sister,  who  married  a  cler- 
gyman, Rev.  Paul  Jewett,  whose  children  were  the 
only  blood  relations  Mr.  Punchard  had  living  at  the 
time  of  his  death ;  and  a  few  months  later,  by  the 
death  of  his  only  brother  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years. 
None  of  these  things  turned  his  attention  specially  to 
religious  subjects.  As  a  worldly  man  Mr.  Punchard, 
so  one  of  his  classmates  tells  me,  was  quite  unlike 
him  whom  we  have  known.  He  was  a  lover  of  ease, 
not  very  studious,  and  particularly  jovial.  During 
his  first  year  at  Hanover,  he  roomed  with  a  most  pro- 
fane man,  though  he  himself  was  never  known  to  de- 
scend to  the  same  evil  habit.  As  he  neared  the  end 
of  his  college  course,  grave  apprehensions  were  en- 
tertained by  his  Salem  friends  lest  his  life  should 
tend  towards  evil  very  strongly.  ]STo  revival  had 
been  experienced  during  his  stay  in  college.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1826,  the  year  when  he  was  to  graduate,  the 
day  appointed  for  prayer  for  colleges  had  come 
around.  A  union  meeting  was  being  held  in  the  ves- 


308          REV.  GEORGE  PUNCHARD. 

« 

try  of  the  old  Tabernacle  church  in  Salem,  where 
Mr.  Punchard  was  a  deacon.  During  that  service, 
Deacon  John  Punchard  arose  and  read  a  letter  from 
President  Tyler,  of  Dartmouth  College,  addressed  to 
himself,  which  sought  to  enlist  the  prayers  of  those 
in  Salem  in  behalf  of  the  unconverted  students  in  the 
college,  urging  it  because  for  a  long  time  no  class  had 
graduated  without  passing  through  one  or  more  revi- 
vals of  religion  ;  but  the  class  soon  to  graduate  had 
never  shared  in  such  a  blessing  within  the  college 
walls.  After  the  letter  had  been  read,  Dr.  Corne- 
leus  called  upon  Deacon  Punchard  to  lead  in  prayer. 
He  arose  and  prayed  for  that  college  so  earnestly  as 
to  forget  there  was  any  other  college  in  the  land.  In 
a  very  few  weeks,  tidings  reached  Salem  of  the  out- 
pouring of  Gods  spirit  upon  that  college  with  such 
power  that  nearly  all  of  the  senior  class  were  conver- 
ted to  Christ,  among  the  number  being  George 
Punchard. 

Perhaps  this  was  the  most  remarkable  revival  any 
college  has  ever  experienced.  It  was  under  the 
preaching  of  Dr.  Tyler  that  it  broke  forth,  and  con- 
cerning him  at  that  time,  Mr.  Punchard  wrote  these 
words  a  few  years  sinee  :  "He  came  to  the  students 
with  a  power  and  unction  that  was  quite  irresistable, 
and  manifested  a  depth  of  religious  feeling  for  us 
which  made  us  at  once  love  and  admire  him.  Such 
was  the  tribute  of  a  man  of  God  to  the  memory  of 
him  who  led  him  to  Christ.  Conversion  wrought  a 
marked  change  in  the  outward  life  of  George  Pun- 


REV.    GEORGE   PUNCHARD.  309 

chard.  Entering  at  once  upon  a  preparation  for  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  at  Andover,  he  was  noted  for 
his  habits  of  close  application  to  his  work  and  his 
studiousness.  So  devoted  was  he  to  his  studies  that 
at  the  close  of  his  three  years  in  the  seminary,  he 
was  stricken  down  with  brain  fever,  during-  which  his 
life  was  despaired  of.  But  he  who  ordereth  all  events 
held  him  in  his  arms,  having  a  great  work  for  him  to 
accomplish. 

After  his  recovery  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Plymouth,  N.  H.,  March  11,  1830,  he 
having  accepted  a  call  from  that  people  previous  to 
his  illness.  It  was  a  leading  church  at  that  time  in 
northern  New  Hampshrie,  and  the  influence  of  the 
new  pastor  began  to  be  felt  in  all  that  region.  As  a 
preacher,  Mr.  Punchard  was  one  that  might  be  spok- 
en of  as  a  revival  preacher,  though  in  his  later  years 
he  was  often  heard  to  i?ay,  "Were  he  to  live  his  life 
over  again  he  would  not  labor  so  exclusively  for  im- 
mediate results."  During  his  fourteen  years  pastorate 
in  Plymouth,  powerful  and  extensive  revivals  were 
experienced.  In  two  years  more  than  a  hundred 
were  added  to  the  church  upon  professiun  of  their 
faith  in  Christ.  For  years  every  Sabbath  morning  he 
preached  to  his  people,  expository  sermons.  On  the 
preparation  of  these  was  laid  the  foundation  for  that 
wisdom  in  the  Sabbath-school ;  and  which  has  made 
his  words  to  us  in  the  prayer  meeting  so  helpful  and 
impressive.  It  was  while  here  that  the  Xew 
Hampshire  Asaociatiou  appointed  him  to  write  an 


310  REV,    GEORGE   PUNCHARD. 

essay  upon  Congregationalism,  to  the  history  of 
which  he  had  for  some  time  been  directing  his  atten- 
tion. This  was  the  beginning  of  that  special  work 
to  which  he  has  given  his  best  powers  and  learning, 
for  the  last  thirty  years  and  more.  Moreover,  he 
seems  to  have  inherited  a  love  for  congregational  re- 
search from  his  father,  to  whom  he  would  often  go 
for  counsel  in  reference  to  matters  of  deep  interest. 

God  by  his  Providence  brought  his  pastorate  in 
Plymouth  to  a  close  in  1844,  that  his  labors  might  be 
a  blessing  to  the  whole  church  of  Christ.  An  affection 
of  the  throat,  from  which  he  never  recovered,  was  the 
immediate  cause  of  his  leaving  Plymouth  and  his  re- 
moval to  Boston. 

He  began  at  once  in  company  with  others  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Daily  Evening  Traveller,  which  before 
this  had  been  called  the  American  Traveller,  with  a 
semi-weekly  issue.  He  was  engaged  in  this  work 
from  1845  to  1856,  when  some  innovations  in  the  pa- 
per, which  he  edited,  took  place  and  led  to  his  with- 
drawal from  its  management,  since  which  time  his 
connection  with  it  has  been  merely  nominal.  During 
all  this  time,  however,  he  was  engaged  upon  what  in 
all  later  ages  will  appear  as  his  life  work.  Previous 
to  this  time  he  had  published  a  small  volume  entitled 
"Views  of  Congregationalism,"  \\hich  grew  out  of  a 
series  of  sermons  preached  during  his  Plymouth  pas- 
torate, and  which  was  only  the  forerunner  of  that 
greater  work  upon  which  he  has  labored  for  thirty 
years,  "The  History  of  Congregationalism. rt  Three 


REV.    GEORGE    PUNCHARD.  311 

volumes  of  this  larger  work  were  published  as  long 
ago  as  1867,  the  fourth  will  appear  at  once,  and  the 
fifth  as  soon  as  it  can  he  pushed  through  the  press, 
the  manuscript  being  all  prepared.  '1  hat  work  is  to 
be  his  monument  as  a  congregationalist.  and  a  scholar. 

I  have  spoken  somewhat  at  length  of  Mr.  Punchai  d's 
public  life.  This  of  course  was  the  widest  circle  in 
which  he  moved.  But  few  men  are  permitted  to  fill 
with  such  eminent  success  the  three  commanding  po- 
sitions of  pastor,  journalist  and  historian.*  In  each, 
he  was  faithful  to  all  the  principles  stated  in  this  dis- 
course. He  lived  in  every  sphere  by  the  "faith  of  the 
Son  of -God."  I  come  now  to  speak  very  briefly  of 
his  church  life.  I  am  not  informed  whether  after  his 
conversion  he  united  with  the  Tabernacle  Church  in 
Salem,  where  his  father  was  deacon  for  forty  years, 
but  certainly  he  was  so  true  to  congregational  ideas 
that  he  would  unite  with  the  Plymouth  church  as  he 
became  its  pastor. 

Upon  his  removal  to  Boston  he  connected  himself 
with  the  Bowdoin  Street  Church,  dropping,  so  far  as 
others  would  permit,  the  title  of  Reverend,  not  desir- 
ing to  unite  the  sacred  and  secular.  In  the  welfare 
of  this  church  he  took  a  deep  interest,  as  there  are 
many  in  Boston  to  testify.  Often  when  advised  in 
relation  to  church  matters,  he  would  point  his  counsel 
by  reference  to  the  history  of  that  church.  When  the 
Bowdoin  Street  Church  disbanded  he  united  with  Es- 
Bex  Street  Church,  in  January,  1865.  Now  his  old 
and  room-mute  at  Andover  became  his  pas- 


312  REV.    GEORGE    PUNCHARD. 

tor  ;  and  the  friendship,  which  as  boys  in  Salem  they 
had  known  together,  when  they  were  both  known  as 
aspirants  for  the  gospel  ministry. 

I  must  not  brush  a>ide  the  curtain  of  his  home  life 
more  than  to  say,  that  a  few  months  after  his  ordina- 
tion at  Plymouth,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Poole,  whom 
he  survived  only  for  about  three  years,  they  having 
lived  together  for  forty-six  years  or  more,  as  next  July 
would  have  been  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  mar- 
riage. . 

God  called  him.  On  the  second  day  of  April,  very 
early  in  the  morning,  the  pains  he  had  been  experi- 
encing for  some  days  ceased,  and  the  joys  he  had  been 
anticipating  for  fifty-four  years  commenced.  The  life 
he  had  been  living  by  faith  in  the  Son  of  God  was 
changed  to  a  life  to  be  lived,  where  he  should  see 
Him  face  to  face  and  be  satisfied. 

I  can  imagine  nothing  more  touching  than  the  words 
he  uttered  to  a  watcher  on  the  last  night  he  spent  on 
earth.  When  pain  would  attack  him  he  would  wrestle 
with  God  in  audible  prayer. — Turning  to  a  friend  at 
hand,  he  said,  in  substance,  "You  wont  be  disturbed 
by  my  praying  aloud,  it  is  the  only  relief  I  have." 
His  prayer  is  praise  now,  and  his  highest  joy  is  to 
praise  Him  "who  sitteth  on  the  throne  and  the  Lamb 
forever  and  ever."  Pie  will  never  again  walk  from 
his  house  a  mile  and  a  half  to  meet  a  few  of  the  poor 
and  talk  to  them  about  Christ — henceforth  he  walks 
the  golden  streets  of  the  celestial  city. 

In  a  neighborhood  meeting  during  the  winter*  after 


REV.    GEORGE    PUNCH ARD.  313 

some  remarks  made  by  a  brother,  Mr.  Punchard  said, 
"Now  can't  we  sing  'He  leadeth  me.'"  He  will  sing 
that  song  no  more  ;  but  he  knows  full  well  what  it 
means,  since  he  is  where  "the  Lamb  which  is  in  the 
midst  of  the  throne  shall  feed  them  and  shall  lead 
them  unto  living  fountains  of  waters."  His  career 
among  us  is  ended  ;  his  works  do  follow  him.  So 
long  as  the  Congregational  Church  shall  continue,  he 
will  be  widely  known  as  a  most  judicious,  painstaking 
and  charitable  historian. 

By  his  associates  in  the  profession  of  journalism, 
he  will  be  remembered  long  as  a  man  of  firm  princi- 
ples, loyal  to  what  he  thought  right,  and  uncompro- 
mising in  his  attitude  to  what  he  thought  wrong. 

By  that  narrower  and  more  closer  circle  of  friends 
who  were  permitted  access  to  his  confidence  and  af- 
fection, he  will  ever  be  cherished  as  the  wann-hearted, 
generous,  charitable  and  sympathetic  companion, 
whose  smile  was  sunshine  and  whose  words  were 
golden. 

Upon  a  monument  in  this  state  are  words  which 
describe  the  end  of  Deacon  Punchard  :  "From  life  to 
eternal  life  by  death  through  Christ." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

REV.   ROBERT  C.    WATERSTON,   D.    D., 
UNITARIAN   CONGREGATIONALIST. 


Mil.  WATEKSTON  has  passed  more  than  sixty  years  of 
his  life  in  Boston,  and  in  this  time  has  devoted  himself 
earnestly  to  literary,  philanthropic  and  Christian  labor. 

lie  was  the  first  superintendent  of  a  Sunday  school 
connected  with  Father  Taylor's  church,  the  old  beth- 
el, so  familiarly  known  in  Boston.  This  school  he 
originated  and  not  only  devoted  himself  to  it  for  five 
years,  but  had  a  religious  service  for  the  children  of 
seamen,  and*  was  one  of  the  first  in  this  community,  not 
only  to  address  children,  but  to  preach  regular  sermons 
to  them,  adapted  to  their  comprehension  and  wants. 

In  this  school  among  the  teachers,  were  many  who 
became  widely  known,  one  of  whom  was  John  A. 
Andrew,  afterwards  known  over  the  whole  republic 
as  the  great  war  governor. 

In  literature,  Dr.  Waterston  has  been  prolific.  The 
number  of  his  addresses  has  been  large.  The  pam- 
phlets he  has  published  are  many  ;  indeed,  too  num- 
erous to  be  named  in  this  sketch.  In  Dr.  Waters- 
ton's  tribute  to  WiMiam  C.  Bryant,  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing interesting  statement.  They  both,  with  their 
families*  wore  in  Naples*  *lt  WHS  in  April,  18T78< 


REV.    ROBERT    C.    WATERSTON.  315 

Mrs  Bryant  was  suddenly  prostrated  with  serious  ill- 
ness.  I  received  from  him  a  note  stating  that  their 
was  a  subject  of  interest  upon  which  he  would  like  to 
converse  with  me.  He  stated  that  he  had  never  uni- 
ted himself  with  the  church,  which,  with  his  present 
feelings,  he  would  most  gladly  do.  He  then  asked 
if  it  would  be  agreeable  to  me  to  come  to  his  room 
on  the  morrow  and  administer  the  communion,  add- 
ing that,  as  he  had  not  been  baptised,  he  desired  that 
ordinance  at  the  same  time.  The  day  following  was 
the  Sabbath,  and  a  most  heavenly  day.  In  fulfill- 
ment of  his  wishes,  in  his  own  quiet  room,  a  compa- 
ny of  seven  persons  celebrated  together  the  Lord's 
Supper.  With  hymns,  selections  from  the  scripture, 
and  devotional  exercises,  we  went  back  in  thought  to 
the 'large  upper  room'  where  Christ  first  instituted 
the  Holy  Supper  in  the  midst  of  his  disciples.  Pre- 
vious to  the  breaking  of  bread,  William  Cullen  Bry- 
ant was  baptised.  With  snow-white  head  and  flowing 
biard,  he  stood  like  one  of  the  ancient  prophets,  and 
perlutps  never  since  the  days  of  the  apostles  has  a  truer 
disciple  professed  allegiance  to  the  Divine  Master." 

In  the  life  of  Hon.  Horace  Mann,  I  find  the  follow- 
ing :  "Another  man,  who  has  threaded  New  Eng- 
land society  like  a  beam  of  golden  sunshine  gleaming 
in  dark  places,  was  just  then  coming  under  the  obser- 
vation of  those  whose  eyes  are  ever  open  to  see  good- 
ness. Robert  C.  Waterston  did  not  owe  his  original 
impulse  to  Mr.  Mann,  to  whom  he  afterwards  looked 
nd  a  guide/  tfr  ttf  Uny  t/tlafer  thau  his1  jpur#  and 


316  REV.    ROBERT    C.    WATERSTON. 

nature,  and  to  parents  who  knew  how  to  cherish  what 
was  loveliest  in  their  children.  The  death  of  a  little, 
only  sister  whom  the  boy  loved  dearly,  first  drew  his 
attention  to  other  children,  and  he  loved  to  gather 
them,  and  teach  them  to  be  good,  when  he  was  very 
young.  When  Mr.  Mann  first  heard  of  him,  he  was 
a  wonderfully  successful  Sunday-school  teacher  to  a 
class  of  the  most  degraded  Boston  poor,  and  had 
drawn  into  the  work  many  noble  persons,  kindled  by 
his  enthusiasm ;  and  his  father,  in  whose  business 
employ  he  then  was,  gave  him  certain  hours  for  visi- 
ting the  families  of  the  Sunday-School  children  he 
had  assembled  in  Mr.  Taylor's  vestry,  and  with  whom 
he  kept  up  such  close  intercourse  that  he  knew  which 
ran  away  from  school,  which  told  falsehoods,  which 
stole,  etc.  Mr.  Mann  listened  to  the  story  of  this, 
young  man  witb  swimming  eyes,  and  in  subsequent 
years  was  anxious  to  secure  his  services  for  one  of 
his  beloved  Normal  schools,  feeling  that  they  were  to 
be  the  nurseries  of  true  teaching,  and  that  in  such 
hands  the  moral  culture  which  he  craved  for  his  "eigh- 
ty thousand  children"  might  lie  found. 

Mr.  Waterston  loves  to  say  now  that  he  owes  his 
consecration  of  his  life  to  the  mission,  for  which  oth- 
ers can  see  that  Heaven  designed  him,  partly  to  the 
influence  of  Mr.  Mann's  career,  which  stimulated  his 
native  tenderness.  When  he  had  passed  from  that 
which,  to  some  eyes,  seemed  a  humble  sphere,  into  a 
more  prominent  ministry,  ho  was  not  corrupted  by 
the  woixily  di  factions  which  gave  him  au  opportuui- 


REV.    KOBERT    C.    WATERSTON.  317 

ty  to  preach  to  the  wealthy  and  the  proud,  instead  of 
the  lowly  and  ignorant ;  for  he  still  held  so  faithfully 
to  his  allegiance  to  the  poor  and  oppressed,  that  he 
took  Mr.  Mann's  part  boldly  and  earnestly,  when 
many  other  friends  dared  not  give  him  their  counte- 
nance ;  and  this  moral  courage  was  the  first  step 
towards  his  separation  from  his  society,  where  indeed 
many  who  had  watched  his  more  youthful  career  had 
always  felt  him  to  be  out  of  place.  It  was  as  if  Christ 
had  left  the  fishermen  of  Galilee,  and  the  multitude 
on  the  mountain,  to  preach  in  common  places  in  the 
synagogue.  Since  Mr.  Waterston's  release  from  that 
bondage,  he  has  had  freedom  to  speak  and  act  wher- 
ever a  true  man  was  most  needed ;  and  that  is  in  all 
the  unpopular  places,  where  a  fearless  word  is  to  be 
spoken  for  the  right,  or  wherever  little  children  are 
to  be  blessed  and  instructed."  Through  his  long, 
active  life  Mr.  TVaterston  has  always  given  much  time 
and  thought  to  the  interests  of  education. 

He  delivered  an  address  before  the  American  Insti- 
tute of  Instruction  at  its  annual  meeting  in  1835.  One 
on  religious  education  before  the  Sunday  school  society 
of  Newburyport  in  1835.  One  before  the  teachers  of 
Boston  in  1839.  Another  on  the  diffusive  nature  of 
Christianity  in  1840.  In  1842,  Mr.  Waterson  pub- 
lished a  volume  entitled  "Thoughts  on  Moral  and  Spirit- 
ual Culture."  This  volume  went  through  several  editions 
and  was  widely  useful .  It  was  republished  in  London, 
and  yet  again  in  a  smaller  form,  in  Belfast,  Ireland. 

For  more  than  ten  vears  Mr.   Waterston  was  an 


318  KEY.    ROBERT  C.    WATERSTON. 

active  member  of  the  school  board  of  Boston .  He 
was  the  efficient  chairman  of  the  Everett  school,  and 
wrote  in  1866  the  annual  school  report,  which,  in  the 
language  of  Mr.  Thomas  C.  Amory  in  his  report  of 
the  following  year,  embraced  "a  comparative  view  of 
the  progress  of  popular  education  in  Europe  and  in 
all  parts  of  our  own  country,  which  for  amplitude  of 
information,  masterly  grasp  and  interesting  detail,  it 
is  one  of  the  most  valuable  documents  this  board  or 
any  other  educational  association,  has  ever  given  to 
the  public."  We  know  not  what  more  could  be  said 
than  this,  and  as  strong  testimony  of  its  value  was 
expressed  by  many  others.  It  is  a  document  of  one 
hundred  and  seventeen  pages,  crowded  with  informa- 
tion and  all  aglow  with  an  intense  vitality. 

Mr.  Waterston  delivered  an  essay  at  the  third  trien- 
nial convention  of  the  West  Newton  state  normal  school 
in  1848,  which  was  published  and  widely  circulated. 

Mr.  Waterston.  has  been  one  of  a  committee  of  gen- 
tlemen to  raise  five  thousand  dollars  for  the  benefit  of 
the  normal  schools  if  the  legislature  would  add  a  simi- 
lar sum.  This  was  accomplished.  On  this  commit- 
tee, Mr.  Waterston  was  associated  with  Charles  Sum- 
ner,  George  B.  Emerson,  and  Gideon  F.  Thayer. 
This  was  avowedly  in  part  to  aid  the  normal  school 
in  their  excellent  work,  and  partly  as  an  expression 
of  respect  and  sympathy  for  Horace  Mann  in  his  ardu- 
ous labors  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  com- 
monwealth. He  was  also  the  prime  mover  in  raising 
a  fund  of  $50,000  for  William  Lloyd  Garrison. 


KEV.    ROBERT    C.    WATERSTON. 

Mr.  Waterston  has  been  for  ten  years  the  president 
of  the  High  school  association,  and  has  added  to  their 
valuable  library  and  the  works  of  ait  which  adorn  the 
hall  of  the  High  school. 

In  1870  he  gave  an  address  before  the  members  of 
the  school  board  and  the  teachers  of  the  public  schools 
of  Boston,  on  the  life  and  character  of  Thomas  Sher- 
win,  who  for  forty  years  had  been  one  of  the  ablest 
teachers  in  the  country  and  for  thirty  years  had  been 
the  distinguished  head  of  the  High  school.  It  forms 
a  pamphlet  of  seventy  pages.  In  1871,  the  semi-cen- 
tennial anniversary  of  the  school  was  celebrated  by  a 
gathering  of  all  its  past  graduates,  at  which  time  Mr. 
Waterston  delivered  the  poem. 

In  1873  Mr.  Waterston  read  a  paper  before  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  giving  an  account 
of  the  first  records  of  the  latin  school,  and  of  inves- 
tigations he  had  made  in  Boston,  Lincolnshire,  with 
facts  tending  to  identify  the  Rev.  John  Cotton  espec- 
ially with  the  origin  and  character  of  that  school,  the 
earliest  date  of  which  is  1635. 

Mrs  Waterston  was  the  daughter  of  Josiah  Quin- 
cy,  who  has  contributed  papers  at  various  times  to 
the  Atlantic  Monthly,  among  which  are  contributions 
on  Jane  Austin,  Anneiiey  Hall  and  Newsteud  Abbey, 
on  the  Invisible  in  Libraries,  and  Womans  Work  in 
the  Middle  Ages.  A  volume  of  her  poems  was  also 
privately  printed. 

A  likeness  of  Mr.  Quincy,  father  of  Mrs  Waters- 
ton,  may  be  found  in  a  sketch  of  his  life,  first  chap- 


320  REV.    ROBERT    C.    WATERSTOX. 

ter  of  the  first  volume  of  this  work,  to  which  the 
reader  is  referred.  Suffice  it  to  say  here,  that  he  was 
the  second  mayor  of  Boston,  and  has  never  been 
excelled  by  any  one  of  his  successors  for  energy  and 
farseeing  plans  for  the  benefit  of  the  city.  He  was 
also  president  of  Harvard  University,  and  in  a  great 
variety  of  ways,  one  the  most  active  and  worthy  men 
of  this  Commonwealth. 

Mr.  Waterston  was  for  more  than  five  years  the 
minister  of  the  Pitts  Street  Chapel,  under  the  charge 
of  the  fraternity  of  churches.  The  ministry  at  largo 
had  been  established  in  Boston  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tuck- 
erman,  who  was  an  apostle  among  the  poor,  alike  re- 
spected and  beloved.  Mr.  Waterston  with  earnest 
zeal  united  with  him  in  this  work.  On  the  Sunday 
the  services  at  this  chapel  were  crowded  and  through 
the  week  he  visited  from  house  to  house.  Through  his 
ministrations  the  sorrowing  were  comforted,  the  wand- 
ering reclaimed,  the  aged  were  cheered  and  strength- 
ened and  theyoung,  in  very  many  instances,  taught. 

Mr.  Waterston  has  long  been  an  active  member  of 
many  of  our  most  useful  benevolent  institutions. 

Of  the  Children's  Mission  for  the  Children  of  the 
Destitute,  he  was  one  of  the  originators.  The  earliest 
invitation  requesting  friends  to  assemble  to  consider 
the  desirableness  of  such  a  movement  was  from  his 
pen,  and  he  was  called  to  preside  at  the  first  gather- 
ing. For  nearly  thirty  years  it  has  now  gone  forward 
in  its  beneficent  ministrations,  and  thousands  of  chil- 
dren have  been  rescued  from  moral  destruction. 


EEV.    ROBERT    C.    WATERSIDE.  321 

In  Mr.  Waterston's  address  on  pauperism,  published 
in  1844,  two  suggestions  were  urged,  which  have  now 
become  generally  accepted  and  acted  upon  :  one,  the 
introduction  of  sewing  into  the  girl's  department  of 
the  primary  and  grammar  schools,  —  at  that  time  this 
important  branch  was  not  taught, — now  it  is  universal. 
The  other  is  the  harmonious  action  of  all  benevolent 
institutions,  by  a  central  board,  for  counsel  and  con- 
sultation. By  an  elaborate  statement,  by  argument, 
and  by  a  series  of  resolutions,  the  whole  plan  of  our 
united  charities  was  anticipated. 

In  1839  Mr.  Waterston  published  a  pamphlet  on  "Pris- 
on Discipline,"  in  which  he  gives  an  account  of  the  actual 
condition  of  prisons  at  that  time,  and  a  distinct  state- 
ment of  his  views  upon  the  wisest  method  of  discipline. 

In  1843  he  published  a  pamphlet  "On  the  Condition 
of  the  Insane  in  Massachusetts."  In  company  with 
Miss  Dix,  whose  wide  and  active  usefulness  at  that 
time  is  well  known  and,  with  Dr.  Samuel  G.  Howe, 
of  the  Institution  for  the  Blind,  Mr.  Waterston  had 
made  himself  personally  acquainted  with  the  actual 
condition  of  things,  and  the  result  of  his  investigations 
and  knowledge  he  here  embodies,  greatly  aided  in  the 
generous  and  important  work  going  on  at  that  time. 

Mr.  Waterston  has  also  edited  several  books,  among 
which  may  lie  named  "A  Service  Book,  with  selections 
from  Scripture  and  Hymns."  A  "Life  of  Albert  Du- 
rer,"  to  which  he  added  a  "Preface,"  giving  an  account 
of  his  visit  to  places  connected  with  the  memory-  0f  • 
Durer,T*-Antwerp,  Venice,  Korae,  Nuremberg.  Also, 


322  REV.    ROBERT   C.   WATER8TON. 

that  incomparable  book,  Henry  Scougal's  "Life  of 
God  in  the  Soul  of  Man."  In  this  preface  he  says  : 

"This  volume  has  something  of  that  divine  life 
within  itself  which  can  impart  of  its  own  fulness  to 
every  soul  ready  to  receive.  The  very  breath  of  Je- 
hovah may  be  felt  through  it.  It  kindles  in  the  soul 
a  sympathetic  power,  and  lifts  it  into  connection  with 
higher  realms.  With  its  holy  fervor  there  is  blended 
a  natural  calmness.  Health  and  healing  are  in  its  in- 
fluence. Practical  throughout,  there  is  also  a  heav- 
enly spiritulity.  Rising  above  narrow  limitations, 
the  devout  of  every  name  may  hold  it  in  reverence, 
and  cherish  its  counsels  with  gratitude  and  love.  To 
the  young,  it  will  prove  a  tower  of  strength  ;  to 
the  aged,  perpetual  renovation ;  while  Christians 
of  all  communions  will  find  within  it  a  foretaste  of 
immortality.  The  life  to  which  it  would  lead  is  a 
heaven  upon  earth,  and  that  is  but  the  commencement 
to  a  heaven  without  end." 

He  was  for  years  an  active  member  of  the  American 
Antiquarian  Society,  the  American  Statistical  Associ- 
ation, the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  and  the 
Society  of  Natural  History  ;  he  is  also  a  Fellow  of 
the  Royal  Historical  Society  of  Great  Britain. 

Enough  has  been  said  to  show  that  Dr.  Waterston 
has  been  a  very  busy  man,  and  has  devoted  his  talents 
and  life  to  benefit  his  fellow  men.  Few  have  been 
engaged  in  so  many  ways  of  doing  good.  Thus  we 
have  seen  him,  when  in  business,  and  before  he  was  a 

attention  to  poor,  n 


REV.    KOBERT   C.    WATERSTON.  323 

and  degraded  children,  in  Father  Taylor's  Sunday- 
school  ;  and,  afterwards,  the  first  man  to  preach  reg- 
ular sermons  to  such  children. 

Father  Taylor  always  commended  him  in  the  high- 
est terms,  and  considering  how  plainly  he  dealt  with 
those  who  were  disposed  to  self-praise  and  congratu- 
lation, it  is  much  to  Dr.  Waterston's  praise  that  he 
pronounced  so  many  euolgiuins  upon  him.  I  know 
very  well  how  this  wonderful  man  was  accustomed  to 
deal  with  those  who  courted  applause  and  were  puffed 
up  with  vanity.  I  once  attended  one  of  his  talking 
meetings  with  a  gentleman  who  spoke  after  this  fash- 
ion (it  was  at  his  bethel)  :  the  gentleman  told  how 
much  the  sailors  were  indebted  to  the  merchants  of 
Boston.  They  had  built  that  bethel-church  and  done 
this  and  that  for  them,  &c.  When  he  ceased,  Father 
Taylor  said,  "If  there  is  any  other  old  sinner  from 
the  south  end  who  wants  to  boast  of  his  good  deeds, 
let  him  say  on." 

Mr.  Waterston  has  given  two  courses  of  Lowell 
lectures,  besides  which  he  has  lectured  before  the  So- 
ciety of  Natural  History  aiid  the  Boston  Art  Club. 
He  has  also  given  various  popular  lectures  upon  coun- 
tries he  has  personally  visited, — Scotland  and  Switz- 
erland, and  upon  topics  connected  with  art,  — Wash- 
ington Allston,  Albert  Durer,  &c.  All  of  these  lec- 
tures have  been  very  interesting,  and  when  they  have 
been  given  to  one  society,  they  have  been  called  for 
by  others. 

Ike  lectures,  w£J£&  jio  w&»  tlfc  iTO»9  of  starting 


324  KEY.    ROBERT   C.    W ATERSTOX . 

in  connection  with  the  Natural  History  Society,  for 
the  teachers  of  the  public  schools,  have  been  of  signal 
benefit  to  them  ;  and,  had  Dr.  Waterston  not  started 
them,  they  would  never  have  been  commenced. 

Finally,  added  to  all  his  other  efforts  to  do  good 
and  be  useful  to  his  generation,  and  to  those  who 
shall  follow,  Dr.  "\Vaterston  has  considerable  poetic 
genius,  and  has  written  many  poems  and  hymns,  some 
of  the  latter  are  so  good  that  they  have  been  highly 
prized  and  sung  by  many,  and  found  a  place  in  hymns 
for  worship.  We  have  room  for  the  following  one  only  : 
Hi'MX  OX  THE  DEATH  OF  A  CHILD. 

One  sweet  flower  has  drooped  and  faded. 

One  sweet  infant  voice  has  fled. 
One  fair  brow  the' grave  has  shaded. 

One  dear  school-mate  now  is  dead. 

But  we  feel  no  thought  of  sadness. 

For  our  friend  is  happy  now; 
She  has  knelt  in  soul-felt  gladness. 

Where  the  blessed  angels  bow. 

She  is  now  where  harps  are  ringing 
Through  the  heavenly  courts  above. 

And  her  silveiy  voice  is  singing. 
With  glad  spirits,  hymns  of  love. 

She  has  gone  to  heaven  before  us. 
But  she  turns  and  waves  her  hand. 

Pointing  to  the  glories  o'er  us, 
In  that  happy  spirit-land. 

May  our  footsteps  never  falter 

In  tin:  path  that  she  has  trod  ; 
May  we  worship  at  the  altar 

Of  the  great  and  Jiving  God. 

Lord,  may  angels  watch  above  us, 

Keep  us  all  from  error  frce--- 
May  they  guard,  and  guide,  and  love  us, 

Till,  like.her,,ive  go  to  .Thee..      , 


ELDER    JACOB    KNAPP.  325 

ELDER  JACOB  KNAPP,  BAPTIST. 


JACOB  KNAPP  was  born  in  Otsego  county,  in  the 
state  of  New  York,  December  7,  1799.  His  father 
and  grandfather  were  episcopalians.  He  was  brought 
ni)  t°  attend  the  church  and  say  the  catechism.  In 
his  seventeeth  year  his  mother  died.  This  led  him 
to  think-  of  serious  things.  Soon  after  this  he  was 
converted.  He  says,  "my  soul  leaped  within  me, 
and  I  broke  forth  into  singing  praises  to  the  blessed 
Saviour.  The  sweet  melodies  of  the  birds  seemed  to 
make  harmony  with  my  songs ;  and,  as  I  looked 
around  ine,  the  sun  shone  with  $  lustre  not  his  own, 
the  magestic  trees  appeared  to  bow  in  sweet  submis- 
sion to  the  will  of  Heaven.  All  nature  smiled,  and 
everything,  animate  and  inanimate,  praised  God, 
with  a  voice  too  loud  and  too  plain  to  be  misunder- 
stood. I  lost  all  concern  about  Heaven  or  Hell ;  my 
soul  was  wholly  absorbed  in  loving  and  praising  Him 
whom  angels  adore  and  all  nature  magnifies." 

He  says,  "I  was  now  nineteen  years  of  age.  It 
beino-  the  custom  of  my  father  to  give  his  sons  their 

O  v  O 

time  when  they  were  twenty  years  old,  I  returned  to 
my  father's  house,  and  remained  subject  to  him  dur- 
ing the  appointed  time.  All  this  while  I  was  thirst- 
ing for  knowledge  and  better  qualifications  for  useful- 
ness. My  mind  was  greatly  impressed  with  the  duty 
and  the  desire  of  preaching  the  gospel.  But  how  to 
obtain  a  suitable  education  I  did  not  know.  I  was 


32()  ELDER   JACOB    KXAI'P. 

poor,  had  no  friends  who  could  or  would  help  me, 
and  was  not  aware  of  the  existence  of  any  ministe- 
rial education  society.  I  labored,  as  God  gave  me  oppor- 
tunity according  to  my  ability.  Kealizingthe  great  re- 
ligious destitution  of  the  country  where  my  father  re- 
sided, I  appointed  prayer  meetings  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, gathered  together  the  *fevv  scattered  sheep  in 
this  portion  of  the  western  wilderness,  and  was  en- 
couraged to  continue  in  these  efforts,  and  strength- 
ened in  my  convictions  concerning  preaching  the  gos- 
pel ,  because  it  pleased  God  to  crown  these  humble  efforts 
with  success  in  the  conversion  of  several  souls." 

He  had  a  desire  for  education,  and  hearing  of  an 
academy  at  Gilbertsville,  Otsego  county,  he  set  off 
for  that  place.  He  says,  "I  arrived  at  this  place  near 
the  end  of  April,  1821,  with  but  lew  clothes  for  the 
summer,  and  about  money  enough  to  pay  for  one 
quarter's  tuition.  I  called  on  Mr.  Collins,  the  prin- 
cipal of  the  institution,  and  made  known  to  him  my 
situation  and  my  wishes.  He  seemed  to  take  an  in- 
terest in  my  case,  and  reccommended  me  to  several 
families,  who,  he  thought,  might  be  willing  to  let  me 
do  work  about  the  house  for  my  board.  But  after 
making  several  fruitless  applications,  Mr.  Collins 
told  me  that  I  might  board  with  him,  do  what  few 
chores  he  needed  to  have  done,  and  pay  him  in  full 
whenever  I  was  able  to  do  so.  I  felt  extremely  grateful 
for  his  kindness,  but  yet  I  could  hardly  endure  the 
thought  of  running  in  debt.  However,  I  concluded  tq  ac- 
cept the  otfer,  ap4  accordingly  commfijjw4  Jltf  £t 


ELDER  JACOB   KNAPJP.  327 

Iii  1822  he  preached  to  the  baptist  church  in  Ma- 
sonville,  and  they  licensed  him  to  preach.  With  this 
recommendation  he  entered  the  baptist  institution  at 
Hamilton.  Thither  he  went  on  foot  a  distance  of  fif- 
ty miles.  He  says,  "shortly  after  my  entrance  into 
the  institution,  Professor  Haskell  requested  me  to 
preach  in  a  neighboring  school-house.  Overwhelmed 
with  a  sense  of  my  inability,  I  took  the  stand  and 
announced  my  text.  But  no  sooner  had  the  words 
passed  from  my  lips,  than  my  eye  fell  on  the  form  of 
my  venerable  instructor.  His  presence  entirely  un- 
manned me.  I  managed,  amid  much  confusion  of 
thought,  to  get  through  the  discourse,  fully  expect- 
ing that  he  would  advise  me  to  give  up  the  thought 
of  preaching,  and  leave  the  institution.  After  wait- 
ing some  time,  and  hearing  nothing  from  him,  I  ven- 
tured to  call  on  him,  and  unburden  my  heart  of  its 
apprehensions  and  rnis-givings.  Instead,  however, 
of  discouraging  me,  he  bade  me  go  on.  Shortly  after 
this,  I  was  sent  to  preach,  on  the  Sabbath,  to  the 
church  in  Morrisville,  the  county  seat.  This  was  the 
first  instance  in  which  I  had  been  asked  to  preach  in 
a  meeting-house.  The  thought  of  doing  so  filled  me 
with  fear  and  trembling.  But  the  Lord  strengthened 
me,  and  gave  me  liberty."  He  received  his  diploma 
June,  1825,  and  accepted  a  call  from  the  baptist 
church  in  Springfield,  Otsego  county,  N.  Y.,  on  the 
first  day  of  the  September  following.  H^e  was  mar- 
ried to  Electra  Payne  of  Hamilton.  One  week  pre- 
vious to  bis  marriage  j}&  was  or^ajngjl, 


328  ELDER   JACOB    KNAPP. 

maining  here  five  years,  he  accepted  a  call  from  the 
baptist  church  in  Watertown,  Jefterson.  County,  N. 
Y.,  and  entered  upon  his  labors  there  in  the  month  of 
September,  1830. 

After  he  made  up  his  mind  to  become  an  Evangel- 
ist he  held  many  protracted  meetings  in  Maryland 
and  New  York  states,  and  then  came  to  Massachu- 
setts and  preached  in  New  Bedford  and  Salem,  also 
in  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  Providence,  R.  I.  In  the 
latter  part  of  December,  1841,  he  says,  r;I  went  to 
Boston."  The  following  is  an  account  of  his  reecp-- 
tion  in  Boston  :  "I  went  to  Boston  in  response  to  the 
invitation  of  nearly  all  the  baptist  pastors  in  the 
city.  I  preached  in  the  first  baptist  church,  then 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  brother  Rollin  H.  Nealc  : 
in  the  Baldwin  Place  baptist  church,  of  which  broth- 
er Baron  Stow  was  then  pastor ;  in  the  Bowdoin 
Square  baptist  church,  whose  pastor  was  brother  R. 
W.  Cushman  ;  in  the  Harvard  Street  baptist  church, 
brother  Robert  Turnbull,  pastor  ;  and  in  the  Trcmont 
Street  church,  over  whose  services  brother  Nathaniel 
Colver  presided.  The  people  of  brother  Colver's 
church  mingled  their  prayers  and  tears  with  us,  but 
their  audiance-room  was,  at  that  tiivc,  so  small,  that 
we  could  use  it  only  for  Inquiry  meetings.  I  preached 
uniformly  twice  every  day,  afternoon  and  evening, 
and  a  portion  of  the  time  in  South  Boston  before  day- 
light. Even  at  this  early  hour  the  house  was  crowded, 
forthe  religious  interest  was  so  intense-ill  the  community 
that  almost  any  sized  house  could  have  been  filled  at 


ELDER   JACOB    KNAPP.  329 

almost  any  hour  in  the  twenty-four.  I  conducted 
inquiry  meetings  at  ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  and  continued 
in  prayer  and  conversation  until  noon;  and  at  the 
close  of  the  evening  sermon  I  held  another  inquiry 
meeting  of  one  hour  or  more  in  length.  In  this  way 
I  went  on  day  in  and  day  out,  preaching  to  great 
crowds,  often  an  hour  at  a  time.  It  is  easy  to  see 
that  my  labors  were  without  cessation,  and  very  se- 
vere ;  nevertheless  the  Lord  strengthened  me  for  the 
work  he  had  given  me  to  do.  I  closed  my  labors  in 
Providence  one  night,  and  began  them  in  Boston  the 
next,  and  preached,  without  intermission,  three 
months,  and  in  all  one  hundred  and  eighty  sermons. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  week  there  were  two  hun- 
dred inquirers  in  the  seats  for  prayers.  But  it  pleased 
God  to  reduce  the  size  of  the  army,  as  in  the  case  of 
Gideon,  before  he  gave  us  the  city." 

I  came  out,  as  I  had  done  elsewhere,  against  Uni- 
t-irianism  and  Universalism,  and  all  similar  systems 
of  error.  I  called  things  by  their  right  names,  and 
bore  down  heavily  on  the  manufacture,  sale,  and  use 
of  all  intoxicating  liquors  ;  nor  did  I  pass  over  the 
open  infidelity  of  the  city.  The  consequence  was  a 
grand  rally  against  the  progress  of  the  meetings.  The 
first  pub'lic  assault  appeared  in  the  columns  of  a  paper 
whose  editor  wos  a  man  of  intemperate  habits.  He 
denounced  the  meetings,  and  was  especially  hard  on 
the  preacher.  This  movement  emboldened  all  the 
powers  of  darkness.  Many  Christian  people  ordered 
the  paper  to  be  stopped,  but  the  ungodly  rallied  to  his 


330  ELDER  JACOB  KNAPP. 

encouragement."  I  recollect  very  well  these  meet- 
ings. Elder  Knapp  ha<J  strong  friends  and  strong 
opponents.  He  was  fearless  and  severe  in  his  lan- 
guage against  those  who  were  opposed  to  religion,  nor 
could  it  be  said  that  he  always  used  the  choicest  lan- 
guage. Pie,  however,  always  said  the  thing  he  meant, 
and  his  hearers  understood  him.  lie  spoke  in  plain 
language  and  seemed  not  to  f«  ar  the  face  of  man. 
Some  of  his  illustrations,  as  I  remember,  were  very 
quaint.  In  one  of  his  sermons  he  said  there  are  a 
great  many  bad  people  in  Boston  and  they  have  got 
the  devil's  own  mud  SCOAV,  and  tilled  it  with  the  worst 
characters  they  can  iind.  They  have  attached  ropes 
to  this  scow  and  are  tugging  away  to  draw  this  old 
scow  with  all  its  contents  up  into  Heaven.  But  they 
will  no  more  succeed  than  a  fish  could  go  up  that 
post  (pointing  to  a  post)  tail  foremost.  He  made 
many  other  suppositions  and  statements  which  would 
not  be  called  classical.  x  Some  of  the  baptist  ministers 
in  Boston  did  not  sympaihixe  with  his  manner  of 
preaching,  and  often  criticized  it;  nevertheless,  his 
labors  in  Boston  added  much  strength  to  the  baptist, 
denomination. 

He  made  several  other  visits  to  .Boston  after  the 
first  one,  but  never  tarried  as  long  as  he  did  in  1841, 
and  never  numbered  so  many  converts  on  any  future 
visit.  I  remember  he  once  came  in  the  spring,  either 
in  the  month  of  April  or  May,  and  after  preaching  a 
few  times  to  comparatively  small  audiences,  in  his 
farewell  sermon  on  that  occasion  he  said  :  "the  devil 


ELDEK   JACOB    KNAPP.  331 

has  entire  control  of  Boston  from  May  to  October,  but 
1  am  determined  to  come  here  next  October  and  have 
one  royal  battle  with  his  satanic  majesty."  But  for 
some  reason  he  did  not  come  at  that  time. 

When  we  consider  that  nearly  all  the  pastors  of  the 
Boston  churches  are  off  in  the  summer  to  the  moun- 
tains, sea-shore,  or  Europe,  it  may  well  be  asked 
whether  Elder  Knajtp  did  not  come  pretty  near  tell- 
ing- the  truth. 

During  the  war,  while  I  resided  in  Philadelphia,  he 
came  there  and  produced  quite  a  sensation  in  that  old 
Quaker  City. 

The  last  time  I  heard  him  preach  was  from  the  text, 
"Moab  is  my  wash  pot,"  and  his  doctrine  from  this 
text  was  how  God  uses  wicked  men  to  build  up  the 
kingdom  of  Christ,  and  to  purify  the  church.  In  his 
sermon  he  said  :  "God  sometimes  makes  wicked  men 
the  instruments  of  converting  others  ;  not  that  they 
mean  so  or  think  so,  but  nevertheless  they  do  it. 
Why,  1  preached  in  the  tabernacle  in  New  York  city 
and  the  house  wasn't  half  full.  I  preached  again  and 
the  house  wasn't  half  full ;  but  the  devil  entered  into 
Bennett  and  set  him  to  lying  about  me  in  the  New 
York  Herald.  He  published  two  columes  ot\  lies 
about  me  and  the  next  night  the  house  was  filled ; 
there  was  not  a  vacant  seat  in  it ;  and  one  notorious- 
ly wicked  man  who  hadn't  been  to  church  for  ten 
years,  and  who  swore  he  never  would  go  again  ;  if  he 
did  he  hoped  the  roof  of  the  house  would  fall  on  him 
and  kill  him ;  he  was  so  excited  by  Bennett's  lies  that 


332  KEY.    EDWARD    T.    TAYLOR. 

he  came  to  hear  me.  He  came  earl}''  and  took  a  seat 
in  a  pew  in  the  middle  of  the  house.  I  began  to 
preach  and  he  began  to  think  of  his  wicked  oath  and 
to  look  up  and  see  if  the  roof  was  not  going  to  fall  on 
him  ;  and  as  he  grew  more  and  more  excited  he  start- 
ed to  go  out,  but  he  could  not  do  it,  the  people  were 
so  wedged  in  around  him ;  so  he  had  to  stay,  and 
God  sent  an  arrow  to  his  heart  and  he  was  converted. 
If  it  hadn't  been  for  Bennett's  lies  he  would  have 
gone  to  hell." 

Elder  Jacob  Knapp  was,  undoubtedly,  agoodman, 
a  man  of  faith  and  prayers.  He  had  but  little  edu- 
cation and  refinement,  but  was  a  free,  blunt,  every- 
day preacher,  whose  sermons  contained  a  good  de- 
gree of  gospel  truth,  though  sometimes  clothed  in  a 
rough  garb.  He  used  to  remind  us  of  Elijah  the 
Tishbite,  or  John  the  baptist,  from  the  wilderness, 
pouring  forth  stimulating  truths,  though  in  a  rough 
garb.  In  a  word,  Elder  Knapp  was  an  unpolished 
diamond.  He  had  real  value  in  him,  but  .sometimes 
it  did  seem  to  be  mingled  with  considerable  dross ; 
nevertheless,  the  Lord  made  it  effectual,  and,  in 
many  cases  Knapp  was  more  successful  than  those  who 
showed  up  the  gospel  truths  in  a  better  and  more 
shilling  dish. 


o 


REV.   EDWARD   T.   TAYLOR,    METHODIST. 


REV.  EDWARD  T.  TAYLOR  was  for  many  years  the 
famous  preacher  of  the  Methodist  Bethel  church  in 


REV.    EDWARD    T.    TAYLOR.  333 

Boston.  He  was  born  near  Richmond,  Virginia.  He 
sailed  as  a  common  sailor  before  the  mast  for  many 
years.  It  is  to  his  credit  that  during  this  whole  pe- 
riod their  was  no  stain  upon  his  character.  He  seems 
to  have  begun  to  live  at  the  time  of  his  conversion, 
of  which  he  gave  the  writer  the  following  account  : 
""I  was  first  led  to  think  seriously,  by  hearing  Bishop 
Heading  preach  in  the  old  methodist  chapel  in  Brom- 
lield  street.  When  i  went  out  I  walked  along  Tre- 
mont  street.  The  bell  of  the  Park  Street  church  was 
tolling.  I  looked  in  and  saw  the  port  was  full.  1 
up  helm  and  steered  for  the  gallery.  That  port  was 
also  full.  I  made  my  course  along  the  whole  length 
of  it,  and  came  to  anchor  at  the  farther  end  of  the 
church.  Rev.  Dr.  Edward  Dorr  Griffin  was  preach- 
ing from  the  text,  "But  he  lied  unto  him.'  As  he 
recited  the  numerous  ways  with  which  satan  deceives 
men  by  his  lies,  the  spray  fell  in  evqry  direction,  and 
the  salt  brine  ran  dowu  my  cheeks.  I  went  out  at 
the  close  of  the  service  and  returned  to  the  Brom- 
field  church,  when  I  soon  found  peace."  It  appears 
that  Mr.  Taylor,  soon  after  his  conversion,  com- 
menced exhorting  or  preaching  in  Boston,  but  his  ed- 
ucation was  so  small  that  he  was  advised  to  omit  it  for 
a  season.  Consequently  he  again  went  to  sea.  This 
time  he  enlisted  aboard  an  American  Privateer.  Dur- 
ing the  war  of  1812-15,  he  was  taken  by  a  British 
man-of-war,  earned  to  Melville  island,  thence  to 
Dartmoor  prison  and  confined  as  a  prisoner  of  war. 
Mr.  Taylor  bad  bwii  a  member  of  the  church 


334  REV.    EDWARD    T.    TAYLOR. 

enteen  years,  a  licensed  preacher  thirteen,  and  a  trav- 
elling preacher  nine  years  before  he  took  charge  of 
the  Bethel  church  in  Boston.  We  select  from  Mrs. 
Taylor's  record  book  the  following  account,  written  in 
the  year  1868,  of  their  commencement  of  the  Bethel 
work.  "In  the  year  1828  we  were  stationed  in  Fall 
River.  This  was  our  second  year.  In  October  the 
Methodists'  in  Boston  sent  for  Mr.  Taylor  to  preach 
to  the  seamen  in  a  vacated  church,  the  first  one  built 
by  the  methodists,  as  an  experiment.  The  house  was 
filled  to  overflowing  and  the  result  was  the  moving 
of  our  family  from  Fall  River  to  Boston  in  1829. 
Mr.  Taylor  was  in  his  element.  Having  been  a  sail- 
or himself,  his  heart  yearned  for  the  conversion  of  his 
brethren  of  the  sea ;  and  his  soul  was  cheered  in  see- 
ing them  come  home  to  God.  The  Methodists  did 
not  feel  able  or  sufficiently  interested  to  sustain  an 
institution  for  seamen.  The  house  was  to  be  sold 
and  Mr.  Taylor  went  south  and  begged  the  money 
with  which  the  house  was  purchased,  thus  establish- 
ing preaching  for  seamen. 

The  little  church  in  Methodist  Alle}',  soon  became 
too  strait ;  and  when  the  Boston  merchants  learned 
what  was  doing  and  what  ought  to  be  done  for  those 
who  had  been  left  so  long  to  exclaim  'no  man  careth 
for  my  soul,'  they  aroused  themselves.  One  unita- 
rian  gentleman,  Nathaniel  A.  Barrett,  Esq.,  called  a 
meeting  of  Unitarian  merchants.  They  responded  at 
once,  being  a  people  alwnys  waiting  and  ready  to  do 
money,  aud  built  the  preseafc  church 


KEY.    EDWAKU    T.    TAYLOK.  335 

in  North  Square.  The  Unitarians  have  been  our 
warmest  friends,  and  have  answered  to  every  call  for 
the  benefit  of  ocean's  children.  They  have  given  mon- 
ey by  thousands  upon  thousands,  until  church  and 
boarding-house  are  free  from  debt.  How  often  I  wish 
they  could  hear  the  seamen  speak  of  their  hope  in 
heaven  through  the  benefit  they  have  derived  from  a 
home  and  a  bethel  church  !  I  think  the  merchants 
would  feel  that  they  were  drawing  great  interest  for 
the  money  they  have  invested." 

Mr.  Taylor  became  a  very  popular  preacher.  He 
was  at  times  exceedingly  eloquent.  He  was  engaged 
in  every  good  word  and  work  ;  and  especially  in  the 
cause  of  temperance.  When  I  was  in  Quincy,  about 
1837,  I  got  Mr.  Taylor  to  come  out  and  deliver  a 
temperance  address.  Everybody  was  delighted  with 
it,  and  I  think  it  was  one  of  the  best  I  ever  heard. 
As  our  house  was  small,  we  invited  him  to  come 
again,  and  expecting  the  audience  would  be  large,  we 
secured  the  larger  episcopal  church.  The  audience 
was  large  and  the  house  completely  filled;  but  Mr. 
Taylor  was  depressed,  or  as  he  expressed  it  in  his 
sailor  language  "clear  down  to  the  lee  scupper." 
Soon  aft<  r  this  the  methodist  meeting-house  was  to 
be  dedicated  in  Quincy ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wise,  now  Dr. 
Wise  of  New  York,  was  then  stationed  in  Quincy. 
He  invited  Father  Taylor  as  he  was  called  to  preach 
the  dedicatory  sermon.  All  the  ministers  in  town 
were  invited  to  attend  that  service,  and  each  had  a 
puvt  assigned  him  ty  perform.  Father  Taylor  felt  it 


336  REV.    EDWARD    T.    TAYLOR. 

to  be  his  duty  to  chastise  us  all  in  that  sermon.  All 
the  clergymen  of  the  town  were  present  in  full  force. 
Father  Whitney,  the  Unitarian,  and  his  colleague,  Mr. 
Hunt,  the  episcopal  clergyman,  myself,  a  calvinist, 
the  baptist  minister,  then  on  the  Quincy  side,  at  Ne- 
ponset,  the  universalist,  and  the  restorationist  from 
the  railway  village. 

Father  Taylor  commenced  his  sermon,  and  felt  it 
to  be  his  duty  to  take  us  all  to  task  for  our  various 
errors  and  peculiar  notions. 

Having  thus  laid  us  all  on  the  beach,  stranded  high 
and  dry,  he  took  another  tack — showed  his  catholic- 
ity, and  spread  his  wide  mantle  of  charity  over  us  all. ' 
and  said,  "This  i's  one  of  the  most  blessed  seasons  I 
ever  enjoyed.  Indeed  I  have  never  seen  but  one  like 
it,  and  that  was  when  my  own  church  was  dedicated.'' 

His  sparing  none  of  us,  not  a  whit ;  his  leaving  us 
high  and  dry,  where  even  a  spring  tide  could  never 
reach  us ;  his  applying  his  rebuke  to  all  of  us,  unita- 
rians,  orthodox,  episcopal,  baptist,  universalist,  and 
restorationist ;  then  the  contrast, — the  fearful  scowl 
changing  to  a  beaming  smile,  plunging  us  in  what  he 
believed  the  deep  sea  of  our  flounder  ings ;  and  then 
that  wiry,  supple  form,  (a  perfect  hickory  withe) 
bending  forward  to  rescue  us  from  the  briny  deluge 
he  had  just  poured  upon  us,  all  so  graphically  pan- 
tomimicly  acted  out  as  would  have  thrown  -Mr. 
Gough  and  the  finest  actors  far  into  the  shade,  pre- 
sented one  of  the  most  dramatic  scenes  ever  witnessed, 
ttrnvyiog  our  heresies  before  us,  his  wrinkled 


REV.    EDWARD    T.    TAYLOR.  337 

countenance  was  demoniac  ;  when  his  charity  took  us 
into  Christian  fellow.-hip,  angelic  beauty  beamed  from 
his  eyes,  and  the  most  affectionate  salutation  of  broth- 
erly love  flowed  from  his  tongue,  so  that  we  were 
all  ready  to  exclaim, — 

"From  whence  doth  this  union  arise?  All  this 
showed  the  wonderful  power  of  this  unlearned  man ; 
and  all  tends  to  approve  what  we  have  often  advoca- 
ted and  reccommended  to  young  clergymen, — the 
cultivation  of  a  habit  of  extemporaneous  preaching, 
which  an  admirable  Christian  paper  dignities  by  the 
name  of  egotistical  twaddle  !  Father  Taylor  never 
preached  a  written  sermon,  never  knew  how  to  write 
one,  Avould  have  been  shorn  of  his  strength  if  he  had 
undertaken  it.  His  sermons  were  the  brilliant  efforts 
of  an  active  brain,  a  warm  heart,  and  a  fervant  love 
on  the  spur  of  the  occasion." 


PART  II. —PHYSICIANS. 


CHAPTER  XY. 


TIMOTHY   GORDON,   M.   D. 


DR.  Goiioox  was  born  in  Newbury,  Mnss.,  March 
10,  1795.  He  died' in  Plymouth,  November -3,  1877. 
His  father,  foi  whom  he  was  named,  was  born  in  Brent- 
wood,  N.  H.,  December  30,  l(>f>7,  and  married  Lydia 
Whittcmore,  of  Newbury,  January  23,  17(!^.  He 
fonjrht  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  arid  took  part  in 
many  of  the  contests  of  the  revolution,  being  present 
at  Uio  surrender  of  Bur^oyw. 


TIMOTHY   GORDON,    M.   D.  339 

Timothy  studied  medicine  with  his  brother  William, 
a  physician  and  surgeon  of  distinction  in  Hingham, 
Mass.  He  commenced  his  professional  career  in  Wey- 
mouth,  Mass.,  about  1824.  He  married  Jane  Binney, 
eldest  daughter  of  Solomon  Jones,  Esq.,  of  Hingham, 
May  12,  1825.  He  removed  to  Plymouth,  Mass.,  in 
the  spring  of  1830,  where  he  remained  in  practice  un- 
til his  death.  He  was  for  many  years  regarded  as  the 
leading  surgeon  in  that  section  of  the  country,  per- 
forming many  difficult  and  capital  operations,  even 
when  over  eighty  years  of  age,  with  a  skill  and  pre- 
cision that  elicited  the  praise  of  all  persons  competent 
to  judge  who  witnessed  them.  His  last  prominent 
act  was  testifying  as  an  expert  in  an  important  trial 
in  Plymouth  Court  House.  He  was  a  man  of  ardent 
temperament,  great  personal  and  moral  courage,  un- 
tiring energy,  and  did  whatever  he  had  to  do  with  all 
his  might.  He  filled  many  important  public  stations 
and  was  for  years  a  leading  trustee  of  the  Pilgrim 
Society. 

To  his  efforts,  perhaps,  as  much  as  to  any  other 
person,  is  the  public  indebted  for  the  memorial  mon- 
uments erected  in  his  day  to  the  Pilgrim  Fathers.  He 
was  loved  while  he  lived,  and  honored  by  a  vast  num- 
ber when  he  died,  whom  he  had  served,  counselled 
and  saved  on  his  part,  as  the  good  physician,  per- 
formed for  more  than  fifty  years,  with  equal  fidelity 
to  men  of  low  and  high  degree. 

In  many  respects  Dr.  Gordon  was  a  very  remark- 
uUo  mtw.  Iu  eottVOTsa&on  he  was  a  most  genial  com- 


340  TIMOTHY   GORDON,    M.   D. 

•  panion,  always  cheerful  and  enlivening.  He  could 
tell  a  story  as  well  as  any  one  I  have  ever  known,  and, 
in  this  way,  he  often  cheered  and  encouraged  his  pa- 
tients and  did  them  as  much  good  "as  a  medicine" 
would.  At  proper  times,  and  when  circumstances  fa- 
vored he  would  spin,  as  sailors  say,  a  long  yarn,  which 
always  wound  up  well. 

This  is  the  great  secret  of  telling  a  story,  and  though 
there  are  many  story-tellers,  yet  there  are  few  who 
tell  them  well.  To  this  Dr.  Gordon  was  an  exception. 

He  was  for  many  years  the  senior  deacon  of  the 
church  of  the  Pilgrimage,  in  Plymouth,  and  filled  the 
office  to  his  own  credit  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
church.  He  entered  into  rest.in  a  good  old  age,  com- 
ing as  a  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe  into  the  garner  of  our 
Lord,  leaving  a  name  honored  and  embalmed  with 
great  usefulness  and  services  to  the  present  generation 
to  imitate. 

liev.  Mr.  Tukesbury  in  his  funeral  sermon  of  Dr. 
Gordon  says  of  him  as  a  Christian:  "This  he  was, 
not  by  profession  merely,  but  in  the  general  quality 
and  spirit  of  his  life.  He  was  not  only  a  man  and  a 
physician  ;  but  a  true  man  and  a  true  physician  ;  and 
doubtless  many  of  the  traits  which  we  have  seen  him 
to  have  in  these  other  spheres,  found  their  inspiration 
in  this  fact.  He  was  a  firm  and  fond  believer  of  the 
Word  of  God.  He  accepted  the  doctrine  of  the  Chris- 
tian system  as  of  Divine  authority.  He  believed  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  that  ho  might  be  saved ;  and  conten- 
t.lud  earnestly  tin-  the  faith  once  delivered  unto  tlio  saints . 


TIMOTHY    GORDON,    M.   D.  341 

"He  united  with  this  church  July  1,  1838  ;  and  has 
held  a  prominent  place  within  it  from  that  time  to  this. 
He  was  chosen  one  of  its  deacons  February  6,  1839, 
and  has  always  remained  in  this  office.  He  was  for 
many  years  superintendent  of  the  sabbath-school.  He 
has  contributed  largely  to  the  support  of  the  material 
interests  of  the  church  and  society,  'i  he  contributions 
of  tlie  church  and  benevolent  objects  have  been  liberally 
increased,  and  sometimes  doubled,  by  the  gifts  of 
himself  and  Mrs.  Gordon.  From  year  to  year  he  has 
rendered  important  aid  to  us  in  temporal  things.  This 
we  gratefully  remember  and  record. 

"He  has  truly  stood  as  a  central  pillar  among  us 
during  the  last  forty  years.  His  name  and  deeds  are 
wrought  conspicuously  into  our  history. 

"The  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of  glory  if  it  be  found 
in  the  way  of  righteousness.'  "VVe  looked  upon  his 
'hoary  head,'  his  silvered  hair  as  he  sat  in  his  pew  at 
church  and  saw  it  to  be  'in  the  way  of  righteousness.' 

*/  <_; 

He  was  an  habitual  attendant  upon  the  service  of  the 
sanctuary  and  an  attentive  listener  to  the  word  preached. 
He  did  not  disconnect  his  character  as  a  Christian  with 
his  professional  practice.  I  have  been  told  that  he 
endeavored  to  direct  the  thoughts  of  his  patients,  es- 
pecially of  tjiose  at  whose  dying  bed  "he  was  called  to 
sttind,  to  the  Great  Physician  of  souls,  as  the  only  one 
who  could  heal  their  transgressions  or  prepare  them 
for  heaven. 

He  has  increased  the  sum  of  the  world's  goods.  Em- 
inently is  this  true  of  our  town.  It  was  a  good  day 


342  GEORGE    CHANDLER,    M.    D. 

for  Plymouth  when  he  came  here.  He  has  held  a 
morally  medicative  relation  to  the  place.  The  value 
not  only  of  a  physician  but  of  a  Christian  physician  is 
richly  attested  in  his  life.  Such  men  can  ill  be  spared. 
In  his  home  and  in  many  of  our  own,  into  which  he 
has  been  Avont  to  enter,  on  our  streets  and  in  the 
church,  his  familiar  form,  his  noble,  benignant  pres- 
ence will  be  sadly  missed.  Especially  here,  in  the 
associations  and  endeavors  of  the  church,  his  Joss  will 
be  long  and  painfully  ft  It.  His  life  is  in  many  ways 
a  worthy  example  to  us  all ;  especially  to  the  young. 
'He  being  dead  yet  speaketh.'  And  he  seemeth  to 
say :  'Be  ye  followers  of  me  in  as  far  as  I  also  was  of 
Christ.'" 


GEORGE   CHANDLER,   M.   1). 


[AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL.] 

LIKE  many  New  England  boys  who  leave  their 
native  homes  after  reaching  manhood,  Dr.  George 
Chandler  left  his  in  Pom  fret,  Conn.,  and  prepared 
himself  for  college  and  professional  life.  He  was 
born  April  28,  180(i,  and,  as  he  grew  up,  attended 
a  district  school  as  was  the  custom  of  cnildren,  but 
labored  on  the  farm  of  his  mother  during  the  sum- 
mer, until  the  autumn  of  his  eighteenth  year.  This 
summer  work  had,  for  several  seasons,  when  he  had 
tried  to  do  the  work  duty  of  an  hired  man,  come 


GEORGE    CHANDLER,    M.    D.  343 

very  hard  to  him  and  led  him  to  cast  about  for  other 
and  easier  ways  of  getting  a  living.  The  farmer  had, 
he  knew,  small  pecuniary  returns  for  his  labor. 

This  course  of  life  preserved  his  good  constitution 
and  gave  him  physical  health. 

In  the  fall  of  1823  he  went  to  the  academy  in  Dud- 
ley, Mass.,  where  he  began  the  study  of  Latin  which 
he  continued  the  next  season  at  Leicester.  He 
taught  a  district  school  in  Sutton  in  the  winter  of 
1824  and  5,  was  at  the  Academy  in  Woodstock, 
Conn.,  in  the  summer  of  1825,  and  entered  Brown 
University  in  the  spring  of  1826  in  the  freshman 
class  of  1829.  As  it  was  the  custom  then  for  the 
students  to  teach  during  the  long  winter  vacation  he 
did  so  the  next  winter.  He  remained  at  "Brown" 
until  the  end  of  Sophomore  year  under  president 
Asa  Messer  whom  the  students  most  shamefully  treat- 
ed and  drove  off;  under  Dr.  Wood,  during  the  inter- 
regnum, and  under  Dr.  F.  Wayland  whose  proper, 
but,  to  the  unruly  boys  he  found  there,  severe  dis- 
cipline, some  of  whom  winced  a  good  deal,  but  oth- 
ers of  them  fearing  college  life  there  would  be  un- 
settled for  a  long  time,  left  the  institution.  Among 
these  were  Dr.  Chandler  and  his  chiiin,  David  T. 
Brigham.  They  had  prepared  themselves  and  en- 
tered Union  college  at  Schenectady  where  they  were 
graduated  at  the  end  of  a  year  under  the  most  excel- 
ent  teacher  and  disciplinarian,  Dr.  Elephalet  Nott. 
What  a  difference  in  the  character  of  the  two  institu- 
tions at  that  day  !  At  Brown,  many  of  the  students 


344  GEORGE    CHANDLER,    M.    D. 

behaved  as  rudely  as  they  well  could,  while  at  Union 
most  of  them  put  on  their  best  behavior.  The  supe- 
rior tact  in  government  thus  showed  itself  plainly. 
But  sad  enough,  for  after  fifty  years  of  graduation  he 
attended  commencement  at  Union  in  1878  and  saw 
not  a  member  of  his  class  which  numbered  more  than 
eighty. 

He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  H.  Holt  in  Pomfret, 
Conn.  ;  attended  a  course  of  medical  lectures  in  Bos- 
ton, in  1828  and  9  ;  and  another  in  1830-31  at  Yale 
college,  where  he  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  On 
the  3rd  of  November,  1831,  he  opened  an  office  for 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  Worcester,  but  on  the 
28th  of  March,  1833,  went  to  reside  at  the  State 
Lunatic  Hospital  in  that  place  as  assistant  physician 
to  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Woodward.  He  resigned  his 
office  there  in  May,  1842,  married,  and  in  October 
took  charge  of  the  X.  H.  Asylum  for  the  insane  at 
Concord,  N.  II.,  an  institution  built  after  a  plan  he 
had  submitted.  At  that  time  the  hospital  building 
was  not  finished  and  was  wholly  unfurnished  except 
with  the  beds.  Less  than  five  hundred  dollars  was 
placed  at  his  disposal  to  finish,  furnish  and  to  carry 
on  the  hospital.  Here  was  truly  a  field  opening  for 
hard  work.  Soon  the  insane  were  brought  in  ;  and, 
after  three  years  Dr.  Chandler  resigned,  leaving  the 
asylum  full  of  patients  and  funds  of  a  thousand  dol- 
lars in  the  treasury,  without  his  having  made  any 
call  upon  the  state  for  aid  which  is  usually  the  fash- 
ion as  well  as  the  necessity  of  all  such  institutions. 


GEORGE   CHANDLER,    M.    D.  345 

The  following  July,  1846,  he  was  called  back  to 
the  State  Lunatic  Hospital  in  Worcester,  where,  in 
his  own  mind,  he  resolved  to  remain  four  years  if  he 
was  permitted  to,  and  to  remain  not  over  six  years, 
but  he  did  not  resign  until  ten  years  of  its  superin- 
tendency.  He  has  spent  twenty-four  years  of  his  life 
among  the  lunatics,  having  had  care  in  part  or  in 
chief  of  about  five  thousand.  A  life  of  heavy  respon- 
sibilities and  anxieties,  but  cheered  by  the  thought 
that  the  helpless  were  made  more  comfortable,  and 
the  wandering  in  mind  were  directed  to  the  right  path 
by  his  efforts.  It  has  been  a  great  satisfaction  to  him 
to  know  that  he  was  again  desired  to  fill  each  posi- 
tion he  had  before  occupied  and  resigned. 

Since  leaving  the  hospital  he  has  resided  in  Wor- 
cester ;  has  bt  en  in  its  city  councils ;  has  been  in  the 
legislature  and  for  two  terms  had  an  over-sight  of  the 
almshouse  at  Monson.  He  has  been  to  Europe 
twice  for  two  years  each  time. 

In  early  life  he  acquired  a  taste  for  geneological 
research,  and  after  leaving  public  duties,  has  spent 
much  time  in  looking  up  the  facts  in  regard  to  his  own 
family,  and  the  result  was  an  Octavo  Volume  of  1250 
pages  of  "The  Chandler  Family." 

By  his  first  wife  he  has  two  daughters,  both  happi- 
ly married  living  near  him. 


346  ALBERT   DAY,    M.    D. 

ALBEET  DAY,   M.   D. 


[COMMUNICATED.] 

I. \  the  year  1821  on  the  15th  day  of  October,  a 
boy  was  born  in  the  town  of  Wells,  Maine,  named 
Albert  Da}'. 

His  father  was  a  well-to-do  farmer,  and  the  early 
life  of  the  child  differed  little  from  that  of  any  New 
England  boy  in  like  circumstances.  He  went  to  school 
when  it  kept,  and  worked  on  the  farm,  developing 
an  active  mind  and  sturdy  frame.  At  an  early  age 
he  looked  about  and  discovered  the  misery  incident 
to  the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  and  recognized  thus  early 
their  inutility.  Moonlight  nights  he  would  go  down 
to  the  marsh  meadows  by  the  sea  with  his  father  to 
gather  in  the  salt  crop  for  winter  use,  while  working- 
he  would  listen  to  stories  of  shipwreck  and  disaster 
of  brave  men  who,  without  a  thought  of  self,  dared 
the  angry  waves  that  they  might  carry  to  some  sink- 
ing ship  the  rope  that  would  bring  the  fainting  crew 
to  shore.  As  he  looked  out  upon  the  water,  the 
moon  making  broad  paths  of  li^ht  on  its  treacherous 
surface,  there  was  in  his  boyish  mind,  the  faint  glim- 
mering of  another  sea  on  whose  bosom  tossed  count- 
less wrecks,  and  in  whose  depths  the  happiness  of 
myriad  households  was  engulphed.  Would  no  one 
go  to  the  rescue  ?  The  picture,  shadowy  and  ill-de- 
fined floating  before  his  mental  vision,  had  its  influ- 
ence, and  the  question  found  its  answer  in  the  person* 


ALBERT   DAY,    II.    D.  347 

al  efforts  of  his  after  life.  At  the  age  of  eleven  years 
he  met  with  severe  affliction ;  his  mother,  tender  and 
faithful,  self-sacrificing  and  devoted,  died ;  their 
seemed  none  to  fill  her  place ;  her  mantle  had  fallen, 
but  it  rested  on  the  shoulders  of  this  young  son,  and 
repressing  his  own  grief,  he  undertook  so  far  as  he 
was  able,  the  care  of  the  younger  children.  At  times 
lonely  and  often  neglected,  with  no  one  to  whom  he 
could  pour  out  his  sorrow,  he  found  comfort  and 
strength  in  the  remembered  words  of  a  pious  neigh- 
bor who  had  often  brought  to  his  mother's  bed-side 
consolation  and  prayer,  "O  God,"  invoice  of  love  and 
entreaty  she  had  asked,  "when  all  men  forsake  these 
dear  children  who  are  soon  to  be  motherless,  do  thou 
take  them  up."  He  had  watched  the  look  of  his 
mother's  face  as' the  prayer  was  offered,  it  was  one  of 
confidence;  he  could  trust  in  his  mother's  (iod  and 
he  could  never  be  forsaken.  At  the  age  of  thirteen 
his  father  died,  and  a  few  weeks  after  with  the  reso- 
lution that  determined  his  future  career,  Albert  Day 
tied  his  few  possessions  in  a  bundle,  slung  it  over  his 
shoulder  and  started  out  to  fa.ce  the  world  and  its 
difficulties.  Coming  in  sight  of  the  little  village 
toward  which  he  journeyed,  he  became  oppressed 
with  a  feeling  of  loneliness,  the  place  seemed  so 
large,  full  of  houses  and  hpmes,  would  there  be  a 
place  for  him  ?  Sitting  down  on  a  stone  he  wept  as 
he  thought  of  his  dear  departed  parents,  and  how 
their  love  and  care  would  have  shielded  him.  The 
thought  of  t&e  death  bed  prayer,  and  fyig  committal 


348  ALBERT   DAY,    M.    D. 

to  the  God  of  the  orphaned,  came  to  him,  and  wip- 
ing away  his  tears,  he  trudged  on. 

Dr.  Jacob  Fisher  must  have  seen  an  unusual  look 
in  the  child's  face  who  knocked  at  his  door  and 
asked,  "do  you  want  to  hire  a  boy,  sir?"  When  he 
answered  so  heartily,  "yes,  come  in."  Li  this  home 
and  with  the  genial  old  physician  he  came  under  the 
best  of  influences.  He  attended  church  and  Sunday 
school,  and  dates  much  of  his  early  thoughtfulness 
to  the  kind  and  considerate  words  of  his  Sunday 
school  teacher,  Miss  Martha  A.  Clark. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen,  in  the  town  of  Sanford, 
Maine,  he  bound  himself  as  apprentice  to  learn  a 
trade.  He  had  endured  privation  before,  but  he 
found  that  in  this  new  life  there  was  so  much  hard- 
ship, that  the  past  seemed  a  play-spell.  It  Avas  stip- 
ulated he  should  work  faithfully,  should  have  the 
sum  of  thirty  dollars  per  year  for  clothing,  and  one 
month  out  of  twelve  to  attend  school.  When  going 
to  school  he  was  required  to  work  from  four  o'clock 
in  the  morning  until  school  time,  and  until  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening.  So  great  was  hi.*  desire  for 
knowledge,  that  he  denied  himself  in  every  possible 
manner,  that  ho  might  save  a  small  sum  to  pay  a 
teacher  to  whom  he  Avent  to  recite  at  nine  o'clock  in 
the  evening  after  the  hard  work  of  the  day.  In  this 
manner  he  laid  the  foundation  of  that  thorough  self- 
education  by  which  he  beqamc  as  well  informed  as 
many  who  pass  the  full  collegiate  course.  Already 
he  had  resolved  to  work  for  the  temperance  cause 


ALBERT   DAY,    M.    D.  349 

and  at  the  same  time  he  bound  himself  to  a  trade,  he 
joined  the  first  total  abstinence  society  in  the  state  of 
Maine.  From  earliest  years  he  had  seen  the  evil  re- 
sulting from  the  use  of  intoxicants  and  resolved  to 
make  a  stand  against  them.  In  the  face  of  all  oppo- 
sition, and  fearless  of  the  scoffs  of  neighboring  young 
men,  he  declared  the  prevailing  habit  ruinous  to  body 
and  soul,  a  fancied  pleasure  that  undermined  all  good 
and  led  from  pain  to  pain  ;  in  short,  the  world's  tor- 
ment. He  talked  at  a  time  when  all  men  and  even 
boys  stimulated  with  liquors,  at  muster ;  in  the  vil- 
lage store,  when  the  foaming  Hip  was  passed  around  ; 
the  boyish  orator,  with  flushed  cheek  and  Hashing  eye, 
told  of  the  deceit  and  disgrace  that  lurked  in  it. 
Many  laughed,  but  some  listened,  and,  after  drinking 
their  glass,  brushed  away  with  their  hand  the  last 
moisture  liquor  would  ever  leave  upon  their  lips. 
"The  boy  is  right,"  said  one,  "what  makes  my  hand 
unsteady  and  leaves  my  head  weak,  is  no  friend  to 
me  and  I  am  done  with  it"  ;  "and  I !"  "  and  I !"  said 
others,  until  quite  a  little  company  of  total  abstainers 
was  formed.  In  1850  young  Day  went  to  Lowell,  and 
in  1852  settled  in  Boston.  He  had  lost  none,  of  his 
enthusiasm,  but  his  work  was  quiet  and  without  os- 
tentation. Its  effects,  however,  even  in  these  early 
days  in  the  temperance  cause,  were  such  as  to  mark 
him  as  a  man  set  apart  for  a  special  work. 

Not  to  hammer  out  iron  and  temper  steel,  but  to 
straighten  men  who,  through  their  own  perverseness, 
bad  grown  crooked,  and  wttli  their  own  feet  entered 


350  ALBERT   DAY,    M.    D. 

a  net,  and  walked  upon  a  snare. 

In  1856,  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  he  intro- 
duced measures  as  to  the  practicability  of  establishing 
an  asylum  for  the  care  of  inebriates  who  desired  to 
reform.  The  subject  of  caring  for  these  unfortunate 
men,  and  the  plan  for  restoring  them  presented  in 
such  a  forcible  and  humane  manner,  aroused  public 
attention,  and  the  following  year,  1857,  the  Wash- 
ingtonian  Home  was  organized,  and  Albert  Day  se- 
lected as  the  most  suitable  person  to  till  the  position 
of  superintendent.  Like  the  disciples  who  were  called 
upon  to  leave  their  nets  and  follow  the  Master,  so  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  left  all  and  followed  the  Divine 
healer,  devoting  his  life  to  lifting  up  the  fallen  and 
strengthening  the  weak.  Having  to  deal  with  dis- 
eased bodies  and  morbid  minds,  he  realized  the  im- 
portance of  a  thorough  medical  education,  and  entered 
in  1862  the  medical  department  of  Harvard  Univer- 
sity. This  involved  a  great  amount  of  extra  labor, 
the  institution  to  superintend,  a  growing  family  to 
care  for,  and  as  the  Washingtoniaii  Home,  like  many 
a  stalwart  man,  went  through  a  puny  infancy  with 
limited  means  to  draw  upon, —  notwithstanding  these 
difficulties  and  his  failing  health,  due  to  close  appli- 
cation to  his  studies,  he  was  able  to  compete  with  the 
best  in  his  class  and  graduate  with  honor.  His  object 
had  not  been  to  gain  title  or  profession,  but  knowledge, 
consequently  he  came  out  equipped  for  successful 
work. 

After  eleven  yoara  service,  rich  i»  results,  Dr,  Day 


ALBERT   DAY,    M.    D.  351 

was  called  to  the  asylum  at  Binghampton,  N.  Y.  He 
remained  three  years,  and  had  under  his  treatment 
several  notable  men,  who  were  reclaimed,  and  were 
restored  to  position  and  power.  Something  of  Dr. 
Day's  peculiar  understanding  and  treatment  of  this 
unfortunate  class,  may  be  learned  in  an  article  writ- 
ten for  the  Atlantic  Monthly,  October,  1868,  by 
James  Parton,  entitled  "Inebriate  A>ylums,  and  a 
visit  to  one.*' 

From  Binghampton  Dr.  Day  went  to  Greenwood, 
Mass.,  where  he  established  a  private  retreat,  but  w;is 
burned  out  after  four  years.  A  large  number  of  pa- 
tients were  upon  his  hands ;  he  boarded  them  in  pri- 
vate families  while  looking  about  for  a  suitable  settle- 
ment. At  this  time  the  Washingtonian  Home,  Avhich 
had  not  been  as  successful  during  his  absence,  called 
him  imperatively  to  the  old  post ;  and  so,  in  1875,  he 
accepted  the  position  he. now  holds  as  superintendent 
and  physician. 

Without  display  or  advertisement  Dr.  Day  has  con- 
tributed largely  to  temperance  literature.  His  annual 
reports  are  issued  in  pamphlet  form,  and  treat,  in  a 
close  ami  rational  manner,  of  the  nature  and  pathol- 
ogy of  alcoholism,  and  presents  the  remedial  agents 
used  for  its  cure.  He  has  undertaken  to  solve  an  im- 
portant problem,  and  faithfully  has  he  performed  his 
work,  as  many  reorganized  homes  and  happy  commu- 
nities testify.  In  his  book,  "Methomania,"  he  plainly, 
proves  inebriety  a  disease  to  be  treated,  a'ji<i  not  a  di- 
to  be  exorcised. 


352  L.    FOSTER,    M.  D. 

He  holds  that  the  appetite  once  created  remains,  but 
demonstrates  by  cases  cured,  and  men  who  know 
whereof  they  speak,  that  it  can  be  subdued  and  made 
subject.  There  is  but  one  safeguard  set  before  his 
patients, — total  abstinence, — the  Alpha  and  Omega 
of  his  teaching.  It  has  been  given  to  him  to  see  many 
a  wounded  champion  wear  the  palm  at  last,  and  the 
fight  crowned  with  victory.  And  their  names  shine 
as  a  beacon  light  raised  on  a  rock-bound  shore. 

Dr.  Day  is  a  man  who  would  befriend  a  drunkard 
when  all  others  had  abandoned  him  to  his  fate  ;  and 
carry  out  to  a  sinking,  despairing  soul  the  safety  line 
that  would  draw  it  to  harbor  and  happiness. 


L.   FOSTER,   M.    D. 


[AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL.] 

L.  FOSTER  was  born  July  29,  1815,  in  Barnard, 
Windsor  County,  Vermont,  Parents  on  both  sides 
were  from  the  old  Puritan  stock  from  England.  On 
the  father's  side,  from  Ware,  Mass.,  to  Vermont;  on 
the  mother's  side,  from  Bristol,  K.  I.,  soon  after  the 
revolutionary  Avar,  when  Windsor  County  was  almost 
an  unbroken  wilderness.  Both  grandfathers  were  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Both  were  farmers. 

My  father  also  followed  that  occupation.  There 
was  where  I  received  my  first  lessons  in  muscular  de- 
volopemeutj  in  wielding  tho  axe,  scythe  and  grain 


L.    FOSTER,    M.    L>.  353 

cradle  ;  not  in  the  schools,  where  dumb-bells,  lifting 
machines,  &c.,  were  used.  We  combined  the  useful 
with  the  athletic  in  those  days. 

My  early  opportunities  were  only  such  as  our  com- 
mon schools  offered  at  the  time  ;  with  such  assistance 
as  educated  men  gave  me  of  my  acquaintance. 

At  twenty  years  of  age  I  made  my  first  start  for 
myself  by  going  to  Upper  Canada  ,  now  Province  of 
Ontario)  and  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  year.  Al- 
though so  poorly  furnished,  my  work  was  a  success; 
if  we  may  judge  by  the  way  it  was  received.  During 
this  year  all  of  my  extra  time  was  spent  to  fit  myself 
for  the  work  before  me, —  the  medical  profession. 

In  the  fall  of  1836  I  returned  to  Vermont  state  (my 
father  having  left  there  for  Chautauqua  County,  N.Y., 
when  I  was  nine  years  old,  remaining  there  until  I 
was  twenty).  The  winter  of  1836-7  I  spent  in  Ston- 
stead,  Lower  Canada  (now  province  of  Quebec), 
teaching.  Feeling  the  necessity  of  doing  all  I  could 
to  increase  my  purse  (it  being  very  light  ut  the 
time)  I  taught  vocal  music  evenings  in  addition 
to  iny  day  labor.  The  severity  of  the  climate,  with 
my  overwork,  brought  on  a  bronchial  disease,  that 
stayed  with  me  until  I  went  west.  The  cure  of  which 
I  attributed  to  the  change  of  climate  and  the  malarial 
fevers. 

The  spring  following  [1837]  I  commenced  my  reg- 
ular course  of  medical  reading  with  Dr.  John  Burnett, 
of  Woodstock,  Vt.  Teaching  winters,  attending  the 
lecture  course  in  the  spring,  and  practicing  my  gym- 


354  JOEL   BROWN,    31.    D. 

nasties  in  mid-summer,  by  helping  the  farmers  secure 
their  hay  and  grain,  for  which  in  two  years  I  received 
twelve  dollars  for  extra  skill  over  ordinary  hands, 
having  been  trained  in  that  line  in  the  grain-fields  in 
western  New  York. 

I  received  the  degree  of  M.  1).  from  the  Vermont 
Medical  College  June,  1840. 

My  first  year  of  professional  life  1  spent  in  Wood- 
stock, Vt.,  in  connection  with  Dr.  Joseph  A.  Gallup, 
the  man  noted  for  bloodletting,  both  in  his  practice 
and  teaching.  From  that  I  located  in  Windsor,  Vt., 
remaining  there  until  184;"). 

From  August,  1845,  until  February,  1878, 1  resided 
in  Otsego,  Mich.,  in  the  active  labors  of  the  medical 
profession.  Since  then  in  Boston. 


JOEL   BROWN,    M.    D. 


Dii.  BROWN  was  born  in  Bradford,  X.  II.,  Novem- 
ber, 1812.  He  fitted  for  college  at  Kimball  Union 
Academy,  Mori  den,  N.  IL,  and  entered  Dartmouth 
College  in  1837,  graduating  in  1841.  In  his  last  col- 
lege year  he  taught  school  a  portion  of  the  autumn 
and  winter  at  Oakland  Academy,  Carroll  County,  Md. 
Soon  after  graduating  he  took  charge  of  a  private 
school  at  Wey mouth,  Mass.  Afterwards  was  a  part- 
ner with  Dr.  Cornell  in  the  instruction  of  a  private 
school  in  Harvard  Place,  Boston,  in  the  meantime 


EBENEZER   DAWES,  M.  D.  355 

studying  medicine  and  attending  the  Harvard  medical 
lectures.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
Weymouth,  Mass.,  remaining  there  a  year  or  more, 
then  took  up  his  residence  as  a  physician  at  West 
Newton,  Mass.,  where  he  remained  in  a  very  success- 
ful and  extensive  practice  until  his  death,  March,  19, 
1865.  He  married  in  1849,  Sarah  E.  P.  Richmond, 
daughter  of  the  late  Micah  Richmond,  of  Weymouth, 
Mass.  By  her  he  had  one  daughter  who  died  in  her 
eighth  year.  His  widow  is  still  living  at  West  New- 
ton. Dr.  Brown  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  physician 
and  beloved  as  a  citizen. 

[The  above  has  been  furnished  me  by  Jeremiah 
Brown,  Esq.,  a  surviving  brother  of  Dr.  Brown. ]^ 

Dr.  Joel  Brown  was  an  amiable  and  pleasant  man, 
a  fair  scholar,  and  a  good  teacher,  and,  while  he  was 
with  me,  we  had  a  pleasant  partnership  and  a  profit- 
able school.  He  was  greatly  beloved  by  our  pupils, 
and  the  town  of  West  Newton  met  with  a  great  loss 
when  he  died. 


EBENEZER   DAWES,    M.    D. 


Dr.  DAWES  came  to  Taunton  about  the  year  1813. 
Previous  to  that  time  for  nearly  a  hundred  years  Drs. 
Godfrey,  father  and  son,  h  id  held  almost  undisputed 
control  of  this  territory.  The  son,  Dr.  Jones  God- 
frey, never  liked  the  profession,  and  was  often  heard 


356  EBENEZER   DAWES,   M.  D. 

to  say  iii  his  youth,  he  would  not  persue  it  another 
day  were  it  not  to  help  his  father.  However,  cither 
from  the  force  of  habit,  or  because  the  community 
pressed  hard  upon  him,  he  continued  to  practice 
after  the  decease  of  his  father. 

Dr.  Jones  Godfrey  was  a  bachelor,  and  if  he  kept 
any  accounts,  never  collected  his  bills.  He  never  at- 
tended half  the  calls  that  men  made  upon  him. 

During  the  many  years  he  was  on  the  field  of  action, 
physicians  came  to  Tatmton  and  attempted  to  estab- 
lish themselves  there  in  their  profession.  They  did 
not  call  on  Dr.  Godfrey;  and,  of  course,  as  they 
ignored  him,  he  knew  nothing  about  them.  The 
result  was,  they  soon  left  and  never,  returned. 

By  and  by,  Dr.  Dawcs  came.  He  was  a  perfect 
gentleman  in  his  demeanor,  courteous  and  kind.  The 
first  thing  he  did  was  to  call  on  Dr.  Jones  Godfrey, 
and  have  a  social  talk,  during  which  Dr.  Dawes  said  : 
"Dr.  Godfrey,  how  should  you  like  to  have  me  come 
and  settle  here  as  a  practitioner?  Would  it  interfere 
Avith  your  practice?  Would  you  object  to  it?" 

Dr.  Godfrey  replied,  "I  should  like  to  have  you 
come.  I  will  gladly  give  you  all  my  practice  and 
thank  you  for  taking  it." 

*  O 

Dr.  Duwe?  came  thus,  with  the  full  approval  of  Dr. 
Godfrey,  and  Dr.  Godfrey  was  soon  sent  representa- 
tive to  the  general  court,  and  recommended  Dr. 
Dawes  to  all  his  patients.  Thus,  by  courtesy  and  be- 
ing a  gentleman  and  treating  an  old  Doctor  as  he 
ought  to  be  treated,  young  Dawes  came  into  a  very 


EBENEZER   DAWES,    M.  D.  357 

respectable  practice  at  once.  He  thus  verified  the 
old  adage  that  "politeness  always  pays." 

Dr.  Dawes  visited  me  Avhen  I  was  sick  in  Berkeley, 
in  1817,  in  consultation  with  Dr.  Carpenter  of  Free- 
town, who  was  attending  me.  I  had  a  long  sickness 
of  two  years  brought  on  by  a  cold  contracted  under 
the  following  circumstances. 

I  had  been  preparing  for  college  at  Taunton  Acad- 
emy. I  had  boarded  in  Berkeley,  and  walked  from 
thence  to  Taunton,  thus  getting  into  a  perspiration. 
I  sat  down  without  fire  in  a  room  in  May,  and  took 
a  severe  cold  which  brought  me  so  low  that  many 
said  I  was  in  consumption.  Dr.  Dawes  examined 
into  my  case.  He  said  I  was  not  in  consumption, 
and  that  he  saw  no  reason  why  I  might  not  recover. 
This  was  sixty-two  years  ago,  (now  1881,)  and  I  am 
still  alive.  But  I  never  recovered  from  that  sick- 
ness, though  I  have  labored  these  sixty  years. 

Dr.  Dawes  showed  his  skill  in  diagnosing  my 
disease ;  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  he  was  well 
skilled  in  the  art  of  his  profession. 

His  prediction  was  fulfilled,  to  wit,  that  I  was  not 
in  consumption,  and  that  1  would  get  better,  but  I  never 
regained  the  flesh  that  I  lost,  and  the  health  which  I 
previously  enjoyed.  I  called  upon  Dr.  Dawes  for" 
medicine  and  advise  once  after  graduating  and  found 
him  the  same  wise  and  conscientious  adviser  that  he 
was  some  years  before.  I  think  he  was  a  valuable, 
honest,  and  good  physician ;  but  I  leave  it  to  one 
who  knew  him  better  thaa  I  did,  who  givBS  the  foi- 


358  EBENEZER   DAWES,    M.    D. 

lowing,  and  as  I  believe,  true  characteristics  of  him : 

Dr.  Ebenezer  Dtiwes  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Scituate,  Plymouth  county,  Massachusetts,  March  1, 
171)1.  He  Avas  the  son  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  DaAves,  pas- 
tor of  the  Unitarian  Church  in  that  town. 

Ebenezer  obtained  a  good  English  and  classical  ed- 
ucation at  various  schools  and  academies,  in  Hing- 
ham,  Mass.,  Portland,  Maine,  and  elseAvhere.  He 
chose  medicine  as  his  profession  and  attended  medi- 
cal lectures  in  Boston  in  1811. 

He  established  himself  in  his  profession  at  Tann- 
ton,  Mass.,  in  1813.  He  at  once  obtained  an  excel- 
lent practice  which  he  retained  until  his  death,  a  pe- 
riod of  nearly  fifty  years. 

He  was  married  March  7,  1822,  to  Mrs  Shepard. 
She  Avas  the  Avidow  of  OliA^er  Shepard,  Esq.,  mer- 
chant of  Wrentham,  Mass. 

The  reputation  and  success  as  a  physician  which 
Dr.  Dawes  enjoyed  for  so  long  a  period  were  the  re- 
sult of  a  naturally  excellent  judgment,  a  conscien- 
tious endeavor  to  do  his  best  in  every  individual  case, 
quick  observation  and  great  patience.  He  could  not 
be  tempted  to  the  use  of  hasty,  indiscreet  measures. 
He  knew  how  to  wait  until  the  tit  moment  arrived 
and  then  he  never  hesitated  to  take  decisive  action. 
Though  very  modest,  he  had  great  confidence  in  his 
OAVU  judgment,  and  Avas  never  afraid  to  assume  prop- 
er responsibility,  lie  was  patient,  not  timid.  He 
reduced  all  his  knowledge  to  practice,  and  by  thor- 
ough investigation  of  uitch  case  AVKS  continually  im- 


EBENEZER    DAWES,    M.    D.  359 

proving  and  perfecting  himself.  His  reputation  was 
thus  constantly  becoming  better  and  better  estab- 
lished. The  proofs  of  it  were  found  in  the  charac- 
ter and  extent  of  the  practice  which  he  enjoyed,  and 
in  the  frequency  "with  which  he  was  sent  for  in  con- 
sultation, both  by  his  professional  brethren  in  the 
city  and  in  the  neighboring  towns. 

The  esteem  entertained  for  Dr.  Dawes  was  due  not 
merely  to  his  professional  skill,  but  partly  also  to  his 
character  as  a  man.  He  was  very  benevolent  and 
kind-hearted.  He  gave  away  very  much  practice, 
visiting  poor  families,  from  whom  he  could  not  reas- 
onably expect  to  receive  compensation .  Though  they 
had  paid  him  nothing  for  years,  still  when  sent  for  he 
would  visit  them,  because  he  knew  they  needed  his 
services.  His  charges  were  very  moderate,  and  he 
almost  never  presented  his  bills.  He  preferred  to 
wait  until  his  patients  called  upon  him  themselves  to 
settle.  Had  he  pursued  a  different  course  he  might 
have  been  rich. 

Often  he  visited  his  patients  when  he  was  very  weak. 
He  never  spared  himself  when  the  sick  needed  his  aid, 
whether  by  night  or  by  day.  He  was  troubled  with 
dyspepsia  all  his  days,  but  his  great  carefulness  in 
respect  to  diet,  and  his  constant  riding  about,  were 
favorable  to  the  preservation  of  health.  He  raised 
blood  when  ho  W.MS  thirty  years  old,  but  suffered  lit- 
tle from  lung  troubles  until  near  his  last  sickness. 
He  was  taken  with  a  hemorrhage  about  a  year  and  a 
ludf  before  l«s  death.  It  WHS  the  result  of  a  bold* 


360  EBENEZER   DAWES,    M.    D. 

contracted  while  attending  on  an  Irish  woman  in  a 
poor  shanty.  Other  hemorrhages  followed,  and  a 
cough  gradually  wore  him  out.  He  continued  to 
practice  so  long  as  his  strength  permitted,  and  did 
not  cease  to  give  advice  until  within  a  short  time  of 
his  death.  So  long  as  he  could  he  rode  out,  and  was 
contined  to  his  bed  but  two  or  three  days  before  his 
death,  which  occurred  April  20,  18(51,  about  seven 
weeks  after  he  had  completed  his  seventieth  year. 

Dr.  Dawes  had  always  a  great  respect  for  religion, 
contributed  regularly  and  freely  to  the  support  of 
preaching,  and  so  far  as  he  could,  attended  divine 
service.  He  never,  however,  connected  himself 
with  the  church.  He  probably  considered  himself 
not  worthy  to  join  it,  and  perhaps  he  thought  so 
much  of  the  practice  of  many  of  the  virtues  which 
religion  inculcates,  that  he  underrated  the  importance 
of  a  profession  of  it.  He  seemed  to  be  greatly  sus- 
tained and  comforted  in  his  last  years  by  trust  in 
God.  His  reliance  for  salvation  was  not  on  any 
merits  of  his  own,  but  on  the  great  Atoning  Sacri- 
fice, and  his  last  prayer  and  last  words  were,  "Gtxi 
be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner." 


PART  III.— BUSINESS  MEN. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

JOHN   8.   PAINE. 
FURNITURE  MANUFACTURER. 


Lv  -writing  sketches  of  lives  of  prominent  men  of 
various  professions,  those  who  are  eminent  for  inven- 
tions and  of  large  business  are  well  rnlitled  to  a  share 
of  attention  ;  therefore,  having  given  sketches  of  sev- 
eral clergymen  and  physicians,  1  now  add  sketches  of 
several  business  men. 

Commencing  with  John  S.  Paine,  a  large  manufac- 
turer of  furniture,  whose  place  of  business  is  48.  Canal 
and  141  Friend  Street,  Boston.  His  stock  of  furni- 
ture is  immense ;  and  his  establishment  is  visited  by 
many  ladies  merely  to  see  and  inspect  it.  Their 
curiosity  is  generally  more  than  satisfied ;  they  are 


362  JOHN    8.    PAINE. 

alwnys  treated  courteously  and  their  admiration  i*  put 
to  the  utmost  stretch  upon  seeing  to  what  extent  Mr. 
Paine  has  gone  in  devising  and  manufacturing  furni- 
ture. I  have  known  several  ladies  who  have  come 
from  the  country  to  inspect  the  vast  amount  of  ele- 
gant furniture  in  Mr.  Paine's  establishment.  Every- 
thing is  done  here  by  method  and  rule.  The  follow- 
ing are  the  directions  which  Mr.  Paine  gives  to  his 
clerks:  " Date  your  memorandum  book  every  morn- 
ing. Sell  strictly  for  cash  at  the  market  price.  Kep- 
resent  goods  just  as  you  know  them  to  be.  Enter 
on  your  book  and  copy  on  delivery  book,  name  of 
purchaser  in  full,  where,  when  and  how  to  be  sent. 
Name  each  article,  number  and  price.  Hand  your 
book  to  entry  clerk  to  copy  on  to  the  blotter  and  to 
make  a  bill ;  all  bills  to  be  receipted  by  cashier. 
Have  goods  paid  for  before  delivery  when  you  can 
do  so ;  only  conditionally  delivered  until  paid  for. 
Unless  bills  are  to  be  paid  before  delivery,  request 
parties  with  whom  we  are  acquainted  to  give  names 
to  whom  they  refer.  All  goods  to  bo  delivered  by 
delivery  clerk  of  the  department.  See  that  every 
thing  on  your  book  is  charged  up  every  day  on  the 
blotter.  See  the  delivery  book  every  morning,  that 
all  your  orders  have  boon  delivered  promptly. 
Promise  only  what  you  can  fultill.  See  that  you 
have  credit  for  all  sales  actually  made  by  you.  Be 
courteous  to  each  other.  Undertake  to  serve  only 
one  party  at  a  time." 

Tkotfe  regulations  are    strictly    observed    by    all 


LEWIS   JONES.  363 

Mr.  Paines  employees.  1  have  examined  and  ob- 
served the  most  varieties  of  unique  articles  of  elegant 
furniture  in  this  vast  establishment,  and  I  do  not 
wonder  that  he  has  so  many  customers  and  visitors 
to  examine  the  various  articles  and  to  admire  his 
keen  insight  as  to  what  « ill  be  useful  and  elegant  in 
a  first-class  well  furnished  establishment.  The  fur- 
niture is  so  elegant  and  the  prices  so  reasonable  here, 
that  for  a  long  time  I  have  advised  young  house- 
keepers, and  old  ones  who  wi.-h  to  replenish  their 
houses,  to  visit  and  patronize  the  excellent  and  su- 
perb manufactory  of  J.  S.  Paine ;  and,  I  have 
done  this  simply  because  I  believe  they  could  here 
find  all  they  wanted,  of  the  first  style  and  at  very 
reasonable  prices ;  and.  it  is  with  this  belief  that  I 
h:ive  written  and  published  this  article;  and  lest 
some  m.-iy  think  from  my  praising  this  establishment 
so  much,  I  wish  to  say  that  I  have  done  this  of  my 
own  free  will  and  not  because  Mr.  Paine  has  paid  me 
for  doing  it,  for  he  has  not.  Every  man  who  is  emi- 
nent in  his  business  deserves  commendation. 


LEWIS  JONES. 
UNDERTAKER. 


LEWIS  JONES  was  born  in  the  town  of  Canterbury, 
N.  H.  He  received  as  good  an  education  as  could 
be  procured  ui  lko*i  days  by  the  «Ou  of  a 


364  LEWIS   JONES. 

When  twenty  years  old  he  came  to  Boston,  and  soon 
obtained  the  appointment  of  a  messenger  in  the  Com- 
monwealth bank,  which  place  he  held  till  the  bank 
failed.  He  then  went  to  New  York,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  Lovejoy's  hotel.  He  next  visited  France, 
Spain,  Egypt,  and  other  foreign  countries.  After  a 
year  and" a  half  he  returned  to  New  York,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  boot  and  shoe  business.  This  business 
growing  dull,  he  returned  to  Boston  and  engaged  in 
the  drug  business  five  years.  Then  he  went  to  Nas- 
hua, N.  II.,  in  the  grocery  trade.  In  1818  he  re- 
turned to  Boston  and  was  appointed  sexton  of  St. 
Pauls  church.  At  that  time  most  of  the  interments 
were  made  in  Boston,  and  many  of  them  were  under 
the  churches.  St.  Pauls  was  one  under  which  there 
wero  ninety-three  tombs.  Until  very  recently  some 
of  them  have  been  used  for  interments.  The  weal- 
thy were  then  buried  in  mahogany  coffins  with  solid 
silver  plates.  Now  it  is  unusual  to  use  a  coffin  and 
mahogany  can  scarcely  bo  given  away.  Since  the 
introduction  of  cheap  caskets  ovon  the  poor  use  them. 
Mr.  Jones  soon  became  extensively  known,  and  his 
business  rapidly  increased.  During  his  long  occupa- 
tion as  an  undertaker  he  had  charge  of  the  funerals 
of  many  of  the  most  noted  citizens  among  whom  may 
be  named  Gov.  John  A.  Andrew,  Hear  Admiral 
John  A.  Winslow,  Ptiran  Stevens,  William  II.  Pres- 
cott,  Mrs.  Harrison  Gray  Otis,  N.  P.  Willis,  and 
others. 
Mr.  Joaaa  thinks  there  is  no  city  where  funerals  are 


LEWIS   JONES.  365 

more  plainly  conducted  than  among1  the  Bostonians. 
All  tinsel  and  show  at  funerals  seems  to  be  eschewed. 
At  the  time  Mr.  Jones  was  appointed  undertaker  the 
population  of  Boston  was  about  135,000;  now  it  is 
over  350,000.  That  part  of  Boston  which  now  has 
the  finest  public  buildings  and  residences  has  been 
tilled  in  durinir  the  last  thirty  years.  "It  was  Mr. 
Jones'  good  fortune  to  thus  have  the  opportunity  of 
forming  the  acquaintance  of  many  of  the  most  emi- 
nent musicians  and  orators  of  this  country  and  of 
Europe.  How  he  performed  his  duties  may  be  in- 
ferred from  two  incidents  which  we  sire  permitted  to 
chronicle.  On  one  occasion  he  was  called  on  to  the 
stage  and  presented  with  a  magnificent  silver  snuff 
box  lined  with  gold,  by  the  renowned  Julien,  him- 
self making  the  presentation  speech.  Subsequently, 
he  was  again  honored  by  being  called  on  the  stage  to 
receive  the  present  of  a  handsome  and  valuable  gold 
watch  and  chain." 

Mr.  Jones  relates  the  following  anecdote  showing 
the  power  of  the  imagination  :  "One  day,  many  years 
ago,  he  left  his  »tore  to  take  a  box  to  Forest  Hills 
cemetary,  and  to  order  the  grave.  On  his  way  he 
reached  the  church  of  which  he  was  sexton.  He  was 
stopped  by  a  gentleman  who  desired  him  to  go 
directly  to  his  house  and  arrange  for  a  funeral. 
Not  wishing  to  convey  the  box  with  him,  Jones  took 
it  out  of  his  wagon  and  left  it  in  the  drive- way  by 
the  side  of  the  church  near  the  street  where  he  could 
readily  get  it  as  soon  as  he  returned.  He  went  with 


366  LEWIS   JONES. 

the  gentleman  as  requested.  People  passing  saw  the 
box  ;  one  person  stopped  to  look,  then  another,  until 
some  fellow  with  :m  imaginative  hallucination,  fan- 
cied he  detected  a  slight  odor;  another  coincided 
with  him  that  the  smell  was  disagreeable,  and  in  a 
few  moments  the  collected  crowd  smelt  a  fearful 
stench  issuing  from  that  box.  Policemen  got  exci- 
ted ;  then  there  was  a  general  halloebuloo  1  jNlean 
while  Mr.  Jones  was  very  calmly  attending  to  his 
duty,  little  knowing  what  a  rumpus  his  box  by  the 
side  of  the  church  was  creating.  On  his  return  for 
it  he  was  sharply  reprimanded  by  the  police,  repor- 
ters, and  kindly  assisting  spectators,  for  his  culpable 
carelessness  in  exposing  the  public  health  to  such 
chances  of  infection  from  such  a  palpably  decom- 
posed body.  Without  saying  a  word  he  simply  took 
out  a  screw  driver  and  took  off  the  cover,  showing  to 
the  crowd  (who  but  a  moment  before  had  been  so 
bold  in  their  denunciations)  a  new,  empty,  out- 
side coffin  box,  from  which  without  the  aid  of  their 
excited  imaginations  it  would  be  impossible  to  smell 
anything.  Of  course  there  was  a  sudden  break-up 
and  scattering  of  that  crowd  who  but  a  minute  be- 
fore were  ready  to  mob  the  man  who  innocently 
'sold'  them  on  smell !" 

The  firm  n,>w  doing  business  is  Lewis  Jones  and 
his  son,  Lewis  L.  Jones. 


WILLIAM  MASON.  367 

WILLIAM  MASOX,  OF  TAUNTON. 


MANY  mechanics  and  inventors  of  the  nineteenth 
century  have  improved  machinery  so  much,  and  in- 
vented so  many  labor-saving  instruments  that  they 
well  deserve  the  praise  of  the  present,  and  the  trans- 
mission of  their  names  to  posterity.  It  seems  as 
though  nearly  all  the  useful  inventions  and  discover- 
ies, so  well  calculated  to  improve  the  race,  have  been 
made  during  this  century,  such  as  railroad  cars,  steam 
navigation,  telegraphing,  and  the  telephone.  Per- 
haps, none  of  the  inventors  and  discoverers  more 
deserve  commendation  than  the  man  whose  name 
stands  at  the  head  of  this  article. 

AVilliam  Mason  was  born  at  Mystic,  Conn.,  in 
1808.  His  father  was  a  blacksmith.  In  his  boy- 
hood he  worked  in  his  father's  shop,  and  on  the  farm 
the  larger  portion  of  each  year.  When  he  was  three 
years  old  the  family  removed  to  a  small  island  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Mystic  River.  Here  they  remained  three 
years.  They  then  removed  to  Stonington.  William, 
early  manifested  mechanical  genius.  He  made  his 
own  toys  with  his  father's  jack  knife.  When  only 
eight  years  old  he  made  jews-harps,  and  soon  after 
skates  and  sleds,  and  various  musical  instruments. 
At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  left  home  and  went  to 
Canterbury,  Conn.,  and  entered  the  spinning  room 
of  a  small  cotton  factory.  He  went  to  Lisbon  and 
spent  a  year  in  a  thread  factory.  While  he  was  at 


368  WILLIAM   MASON. 

Lisbon  one  of  the  machines  got  out  of  order,  and  he 
was called  upon  to  lepairit,  which  he  readily  did. 
When  he  was  seventeen  lie  entered  the  machine  shop 
attached  to  the  cotton  mill  at  Canterbury  to  learn  the 
details  of  machine  work.  Here  he  spent  three  years. 
Closing  his  apprenticeship  he.  went  to  New  Hartford, 
near  Utica,  New  York.  Soon  the  company  failed. 
Starting  again  upon  a  smaller  scale  young  Mason  was 
reengaged.  About  this  time  he  constructed  a  ma- 
chine for  weaving  damask.  Then  he  tried  his  hand 
at  portrait  painting  but  soon  gave  it  up.  Then  he 
went  to  Providence,  R.  I.,  with  a  Mr.  Lanphear. 
Mr.  Lanphear  soon  failed  and  Mr.  Mason  took  charge 
of  the  establishment.  About  this  time  he  came  to 
Taunton  and  entered  into  the  employ  of  Crocker  and 
Richmond,  which  firm  did  the  most  business  of  any 
one  in  Taunton.  I  well  remember  the  old  firm  which 
proceeded  that  of  Crocker  and  Richmond,  its  sign 
was  Crocker,  Bush  and  Richmond.  Bush  died,  and 
Crocker  and  Richmond  carried  on  the  business. 
Here  Mr.  Mason  worked  twelve  months  on  his  "ring 
frames."  In  1837,  in  the  general  crash  of  that  year, 
Crocker  and  Richmond  failed,  owing  Mr.  Mason  a 
considerable  amount :  but  instead  of  being  discour- 
aged, he  immediately  devised  a  "speeder"  for  "rov- 
ing machine."  As  the 

'•Sparrow  chooses  where  to  rest. 
And  for  her  young  prepares  her  nest," 

so  Mr.  Mason  now  seemed  to  have  found  the  right 
place — the  niche  which  Providence  designed  for  him  ; 


WILLIAM  MASON.  369 

after  having  been  employed  for  some  time  by  an- 
other firm  "Loach  and  Keith,"  who  succeeeed  Crock- 
er and  Richmond,  which  firm  failed,  owing  him  a 
considerable  amount. 

With  the  old  town  of  Taunton,  I  have  been  ac- 
quainted from  my  childhood.  Born  in  Berkeley,  just 
south  of  the  line  that  divides  the  two  towns,  I  was 
almost  as  much  at  home  in  the  one  ;.s  in  the  other. 
I  knew  all  the  old  merchants  and  captains  of  the 
small  crafts  that  sailed  out  of  "Taunton  great  rivt-r"  ; 
and  while  a  boy  often  took  trips  with  them  to  Nan- 
tucket,  Providence,  New  Bedford,  New  York,  and 
sometimes  to  Philadelphia  for  a  cargo  of  flour,  and 
to  Portland,  Me.,  for  lumber.  Well  do  1  remember 
old  Mr.  Pipon,  the  old  bachelor  and  minister  of 
Taunton,  and  old  Mrs  Harvey,  who  with  her  daugh- 
ter, baked  and  sold  gingerbread  near  the  academy 
where  I  fitted  for  college;  besides,  I  taught  a 
public  school  three  winters  in  ihree  different  sihcol 
districts  in  this  town,  and  "boarded  round"  as 
the  custom  then  was,  so  that  I  became  pretty  well 
acquainted  with  the  people,  of  whom  there  were 
not  so  many  then,  as  now. 

The  firm  of  Crocker  and  Richmond  was  the  vital- 
izing power  of  this  old  town.  It  put  all  the  spindles 
in  motion.  It  set  men  at  woik.  It  brought  many 
here  from  abroad.  It  was  the  life-blood  to  this  old 
town,  which  even  then  had  some  eminent  lawyers 
and  caplains  of  vessels;  among  the  former,  were 
Frank  and  William  Baylee*  (though  William  lived 


370  WILLIAM  MASON. 

in  Bridgewater,)  the  Sprouts,  Marcus  Morton,  etc. 
Among  the  latter,  were  a  number  of  Presby's,  as 
Seth,  father  and  son,  Allen,  etc ;  old  Jacob  Phillips 
and  his  son,  Jonah.  I  remember  a  story  was  current 
of  him,  after  the  "great  gale,"  in  1815  ;  that  Nantuck- 
et  was  sunk,  when  some  of  the  wise  ones  said,  "send 
old  Captain  Jacob  Phillips  on  there  with  a  load  of 
brick  and  he  will  find  the  island.'-' 

There  were  other  merchants  in  those  days  inTaun- 
ton  worthy  of  remembrance,  though  Crocker  and 
Richmond  took  the  lead  as  manufacturers,  and 
among  the  others,  with  such  men  as  Benjamin  Dean, 
who  had  a  consumptive  congh  for  fifty  years,  Charles 
Godfrey,  the  three  brothers  Reeds,  John,  William 
and  Hodges,  all  worthy  and  honest  men. 

In  this  town,  after  the  failure  of  Crocker  and  Rich- 
mond. William  Mason  began  operations,  as  the  sailors 
say,  "on  his  own  hook."  Though  still  a  young  man, 
with  the  sight  of  a  seer,  he  sees  what  may  be  done, 
in  the  future  ;  and  with  the  vision  of  a  prophet,  ho 
sets  about  what  is  to  be  his  great  life-work,  to  wit : 
"The  M:ison  Michine  Works,"  by  which  he  has  en- 
riched himself,  and  greatly  benefited  and  adorned  the 
city  of  Taunton.  These  works,  situated  in  the  heart 
of  the  city,  and  covering  ten  acres,  and  so  finely 
constructed,  and  so  elegant,  and  kept  in  such  nice 
order,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  William  H.  Bent, 
treasurer,  that  many  persons  are  greatly  pleased  to. 
visit  and  inspect  them. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Mason  has  been  engaged  in 


THOMAS   WHITE.  371 

the  profitable  employment  of  manufacturing  locomo- 
tives, in  the  construction  of  which  he  has  made  some 
very  great  improvements.  The  first  locomotives 
used  in  this  country  were  imported  from  England. 
The  first  man  to  manufacture  them  in  this  country 
was  Horatio  Allen  of  New  York.  The  first  success- 
ful mechanic  who  went  into  the  business  was  Matt- 
hias W.  Baldwin  of  Philadelphia.  J  knew  him  well 
during  seven  years  residence  in  that  city.  He  was  one 
of  the  best  and  most  benevolent  men  of  Philadelphia. 
Mr.  Mason  also  erected  a  foundry  for  the  manufact- 
ure of  car  wheels  which  he  very  much  improved. 
He  also,  during  the  late  war,  went  largely  into  the 
manufacture  of  Springfield  rifle  muskets  for  the 
government.  This  business  is  now  carried  on  under 
the  name  of  Mason  Machine  Works,  with  a  capital 
of  $800,000.  Thus  his  business  has  been  for  many 
years  and  still  is  the  largest  and  most  important  car- 
ried on  in  Ta union. 

This  sketch  has  been  written  without  any  consulta- 
tion or  knowledge  of  Mr.  Mason,  and  the  writer 
alone  is  responsible  for  it. 


THOMAS  WHITE, 
BOOT  AND  SHOE  MANUFACTURER. 


[The  following  sketch  has  not  been  published  at  the  request  of  Mr.  White  ; 
but  at  the  solicitation  of  the  Author  ] 

THE  business  in  which  Roger  Sherman  and  Kev. 
William  Carey  IX  D.s  the  Christian  Missionary  and 


372  THOMAS   WHITE. 

distinguished  oriental  scholar,  were  craftsmen,  has 
risen  to  be  New  England's  greatest  industry.  It  was 
not  until  some  years  after  the  devolution  that  the 
manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes  became  a  distinct 
branch  of  business  at  least  in  America.  Its  develop- 
inent  however  has  been  so  rapid  as  to  be  almost  phe- 
nomenal. The  vast  capital  now  invested,  the  towns 
that  have  grown  up  around  the  factories,  the  regi- 
ments of  artisans  employed,  indicate  the  strides  that 
have  been  taken,  and  yet  there  are  some  men  living 
whose  connection  with  this  business  dates  from  the 
days  of  small  things  if  not  from  the  very  inception  of 
the  trade. 

By  means  of  the  boot  and  shoe  trade  of  New  Eng- 
land, business  relations  are  sustained  with  all  parts  of 
the  country,  since  there  are  but  few  cities,  and  none 
of  prominence,  with  which  there  is  not  a  large  com- 
merce in  these  lines  of  goods.  Prominent  among  the 
houses  whose  connections  are  most  extensive  and 
whose  soundness,  integrity,  and  enterprise  are  uni- 
versally recognized  is  the  firm  of  Messrs.  Thomas 
White  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  the  history  of  which  will  be 
hastily  reviewed. 

The  simple  story  of  the  growth  and  success  of  such 
a  business  as  this  cannot  fail  of  being  both  instructive 
and  suggestive.  Thomas  White,  the  found-  r  and 
head  of  this  firm  has  been  engaged  in  the  manufact- 
ure of  boots  and  shoes  uninterruptedly  since  1839. 
His  father  before  him  was  a  pioneer  in  the  trade  com- 
9ioucing  business  in  Euet  Randolph  about  1010.  As 


THOMAS   WHITE.  373 

was  the  custom  then,  he  would  manufacture  the  shoes 
and  with  his  own  team  carry  them  to  Monti  eal  for  a 
market.  Having  disposed  of  his  stock  he  would  re- 
turn home  to  repeat  the  process. 

The  experiences  of  those  early  days  would  be  most 
amu-ingto  merchants  who  are  acquainted  only  with 
modern  accomodations  and  methods.  Smuggling 
was  carried  on  to  such  an  extent  between  the  States 
and  Canada  as  to  render  closest  vigilance  necessary. 

Frequently  Mr.  White  senior  would  be  consider- 
ably delayed  while  his  entire  load  was  overhauled  by 
the  collector  and  other  officers  who  would  assure 
themselves  that  all  was  right.  Notwithstanding  ihe 
red-tape  that  prevails  today  in  the  collection  of  cus- 
toms it  is  not  attended  with  the  same  inconveniences 
as  then. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  East  Ran- 
dolph (now  Holbrook  ;  Mass. ,  April  30, 18 1 6.  His  child- 
hood experiences  were  not  essentially  unlke  those  of 
other  lads  reared  in  the  small  villages  of  New  Eng- 
land in  the  early  part  of  the  present  century.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  town  and 
at  the  Pittsfield,  N.  H.,  Academy,  graduating  from 
this  institution  in  1836.  In  his  early  boyhood  when 
not  in  srhool  he  was  employed  in  his  father's  shop 
closing  shoes. 

Keturning  from  Pittsfield  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he 
worked  upon  shoes  for  others  for  a  few  years,  but  in 
he  commenced  business  for  himself. 

Jt  was  a,  very  small  beginning  as 


374  THOMAS   WHITE. 

no  machinery  whatsoever  in  use  at  that  time,  all  that 
was  required  in  the  way  of  outfit,  being  a  cutting 
board,  a  few  patterns  and  a  knife.  But  Mr.  White 
put  more  than  these  into  the  business.  He  put  him- 
self into  it  with  all  devotion  and  energy,  managing 
his  affairs  with  such  prudence  and  forecast  as  at  once 
awakened  and  established  confidence.  As  a  result 
his  business  increased  so  rapidly  that  in  1843  Samuel 
Whitcomb  was  admitted  as  a  partner,  the  firm  name 
'being  White  &  Whitcomb.  This  relation  was  soon 
terminated  however  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Whitcomb. 

Mr.  White  though  still  a  young  man  had  come  to 
hold  a  prominent  place  in  the  community.  The  work 
furnished  by  his  business  was  now  quite  :i  source  of  rev- 
enue to  the  residents  of  the  village  and  adjoiningtowns. 
At  the  same  time  he  also  managed  a  general  store  in  the 
village  having  for  partners  during  the  eight  years  he  was 
connected  with  it,  Mr.  F.  H.  Keith,  who  is  now  a  pros- 
perous merchant  of  Philadelphia,  and  Mr.  Adolplms 
Clark,  who  has.. since  been  successful  in  .business  ia 
London,  England. 

In  October,  1842,  Mr,  WThite  took  another  partner 
who  for  thirty-eight  years  has  shared  with  him  all 
his  successes. 

He  was  then  married  to  Mi$3  Harriett  E.  Keith  of 
Bridge  water — a  sister  of  the  one  who  was  his  partner 
in  the  East  Randolph  store. 

Like  all  other  business  men  Mr.  White  encountered 
the  financial  storm  of  1857 — 58.  Unlike  many  others 
however  ho  was  prepared  to  meet  it  and  enabled  to 


THOMAS   WHITE.  375 

weather  it.  The  same  indomitable  energy,  unfalter- 
ing courage  and  clear  foresight  with  which  he  had 
laid  the  foundations  of  his  business  and  which  had  re- 
sulted in  its  steady  growth  and  uninterrupted  pros- 
perity for  twenty  years,  enabled  him  to  endure  the 
strain  of  those  terrible  months  wtnn  so  many  were 
wrecked. 

Soon  after  the  cloud  of  war  overshadowed  the  land 
and  the  storip.  broke  upon  the  country  greatly  dis- 
turbing all  commercial  relations.  Mr.  White's  busi- 
ness was  somewhat  affected  by  the  loss  of  his  South- 
ern trade  which  had  b<  come  quite  extensive.  To 
compensate  for  this  the  manufacture  of  army  boots 
and  shoes  was  added  to  his  regular  business,  Mr. 
White  taking  some  contracts  from  the  government 
but  selling  more  largely  to  New  York  merchants. 
The  production  of  these  goods  was  continued  until 
the  closing  of  the  war  caused  a  cessation  of  the  de- 
mand for  them.  About  this  time,  1860,  he  received 
his  brother,  Edmund  White,  as  partner,  the  h'rrn 
name  then  becoming  T.  &  E.  White.  Now, .a  change 
occurred  in  their  business.  It  had  been  a  custom  up 
to  about  this  time  for  manufacturers  to  dispose  of 
their  goods  through  commission  houses  or  selling 
agents.  Now,  however,  discovering  the  advantages 
that  would  accrue  from  distributing  their  own  pro- 
ducts they  leased  a  store  upon  Pearl  street,  near 
Milk  Street,  Boston,  Thomas  White  superintending 
the  selling  of  the  goods  while  his  brother  had  charge 
of  the  manufacturing  in  East  Randolph.  It  was  about 


376  THOMAS    WHITE. 

this  time  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch  became  a  res- 
ident of  Boston,  at  once  taking  rank  as  one  of  its 
prominent  business  men.  A  most  exceptional  busi- 
ness career  was  now  entered  upon.  Such  was  their 
prosperity  that  two  years  later  being  under  the  neces- 
sity of  largely  increasing  their  production,  they  pur- 
chased the  four  story  steam  factory  100x3()  feet,  built 
a  short  time  previous  by  Spear,  Sprague  &  Co.,  and 
which  was  admirably  fitted  for  their  use. 

The  firm  now  became  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
influential  houses  in  the  trade,  continuing  as  it  had 
always  been  to  be  one  of  the  most  reliable. 

In  1871  the  personnel  of  the  firm  was  again  changed 
by  the  withdrawal  of  Mr.  Edmund  White  who  soon 
established  a  large  business  of  his  own  in  the  same 
village. 

At  the  same  time  Mr.  White  associated  with  him- 
self his  two  sons,  T.  Edgar  and  Henry  M.  White,  as- 
suming the  firm  name  of  Thomas  W'hite  &  Co.,  which 
has  been  retained  since  that  time. 

By  this  change  the  business  which  had  now  grown 
to  such  proportions  as  to  call  for  a  division  of  labor 
and  responsibility,  could  be  systematized  more  per- 
fectly. To  one  of  the  sons  was  alloted  the  office  work 
in  Boston  and  attending  to  the  finances  of  the  firm, 
and  to  the  other  the  manufacturing  and  general  super- 
intendence of  their  large  factory. 

No  sooner  however  had  affairs  begun  to  move  along 
smoothly  under  the  new  regime,  when  the  great  lire 
which  swept  over  Boston  in  1675  brokfc  out  and  thfeir 


THOMAS   WHITE.  377 

store,  situatod  in  what  has  come  to  be  known  as  the 
"burned  district"  was  in  ashes. 

They  were  enabled  to  save  some  of  their  stock  but 
experienced  heavy  losses  by  the  failures  of  the  insur- 
ance companies.  As  they  were  not  able  to  secure 
sufficient  accomodations  for  the  storage  and  sale  of 
their  goods,  they  were  greatly  inconvenienced  and 
their  trade  suffered  in  consequence.  Still  their 
business  was  constantly  increasing  and  so  rapidly  that 
during  that  year  they  took  another  partner,  Mr.  Mar- 
cellus  Walker  of  Cambridge,  who,  for  several  years 
had  been  their  salesman,  and  had  proved  himself  a 
most  popular  and  efficient  business  man. 

As  soon  as  possible  after  the  tire  they  returned  to 
Pearl  Street  which  had  long  been  the  center  of  the 
shoe  and  leather  trade  of  New  England,  taking  com- 
modious quarters  upon  the  corner  of  High  Street. 

Sphinx-like,  they  had  risen  from  the  flames 
strengthened  so  that  they  were  obliged  to  increase 
their  facilities,  which  they  did  by  purchasing  and  re- 
titting  for  their  use  the  meeting  house,  situated  near 
their  factory,  in  which  Mr.  White  had  worshipped  for 
years.  At  present  therefore  the  firm  has  one  of  the 
largest  factories  in  eastern  Massachusetts,  turning  out- 
weekly  from  600  to  900  cases  of  goo'ls  in  almost  end- 
less variety,  and  with  but  little  interruption  during 
the  year.  Concerning  the  character  of  their  goods, 
a  journal  of  recognized  authority  in  commercial  cir- 
cles says  :  "  Their  calf  boots  and  shoes  in  many  sect- 
ions of  the  country  have  come  to  be  as  standard  an 


THOMAS   WHITE. 

article  as  "Batehelder  Brogans"  or  "Pacific  Mills 
Dress  Goods." 

They  employ  at  present  nearly  six  hundred  persons 
in  connection  with  their  factory  at  Iloll>rook  alone, 
the  pay  roll  being  from  $15',000  to  $25,000  per 
month.  Here  then  is  a  good  position  for  retrospect. 

.When  Mr.  White  began  business  in  1831)  there  was 
absolutely  i  o  machinery  in  use.  Some  years  after  the 
hand  rollers  and  skivers  were  introduced,  then  fol- 
lowed the  stitching  machine  so  that  mu  h  of  the  work 
which  had  been  done  outside  the  shop  must  now  be 
performed  by  persons  in  the  factory.  With  the  in- 
troduction of  the  stitching  machines  came  changes  in 
the  styles  of  shoes,  so  that  instead  of  the  simple  bro- 
gan  and  strap  shoes  which  was  about  all  that  was 
known  in  1839,  the  styles  and  patterns  became  al- 
most endless  in  their  variety.  Indeed,  today  it  is 
estimated  that  if  we  take  into  consideration  the  stock 
of  which  goods  are  made,  the  patterns  by  which  they 
are  cut,  and  the  styles  in  which  they  are  finished, 
more  than  a  thousand  different  varieties  are  produced 
by  this  single  firm.  After  the  stitchi  ng  came  the  peg- 
ging machine,  and  instead  of  the  slow  process  of  peg- 
ging by  hand  a  single  machine  now  makes  the  hole, 
cuts  the  peg,  and  drives  a  thousand  per  minute.  Then 
came  the  sole-sewers,  the  nailing  or  cable  screw  ma- 
chine, and  the  heeling  machine,  so  that  now  in  the 
place  of  the  cutting  board,  a  few  patterns  and  knives, 
which  was  Mr.  White's  outfit  at  the  commencement, 
there  may  be  found  in  his  factory  at  Ilol brook  more 


THOMAS   WHITE.  379 

than  two  hundred  machines,  all  run  by  steam  power. 

His  business  of  $8,000  or  $,9000  forty-two  ye;irs 
ago,  is  now  of  as  many  hundreds  of  thousands  per  an- 
num. 

In  1880  the  firm  still  further  enlarged  their  bufinees. 
Securing  a  factory  in  Great  F.-ills,  N.  H.  175  feet  long, 
three  stories  in  height,  supplied  with  all  the  modern 
machinery,  which  is  run  by  an  engine  and  boiler  of 
40  horsf  power,  and  capable  of  producing  1,500  pairs 
of  shoes  a  day  ;  they  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
a  class  of  goods  different  from  tho-e  made  at  their 
factory  in  Holbrook.  This  part  of  the  business  is  su- 
perintended by  L.  M.  and  D.  II.  Nute,  well  known 
to  the  trade.  As  in  all  thrir  enterprises  the  firm 
found  this  venture  growing  rapidly  upon  their  hands, 
the  goods  that  are  produced  being  much  sought  after 
by  the  best  jobbers  in  the  country.  Thus  we  see  the 
proportions  to  which  a  small  beginning  may  be  de- 
veloped in  the  lifetime  of  a  single  man. 

There  have  been  but  few  such  business  careers.  Mr. 
White  is  one  of  the  very  small  number  of  business 
nun  in  this  region,  who  have  enjoyed  for  so  long  a 
period  a  constantly  increasing  prosperity,  always  pay- 
ing obligations  in  full.  New  England  has  had  some 
such  men,  but  they  have  not  been  so  numerous  as  not 
to  be  exceptional.  Although  paying  closest  attention 
to  business,  Mr.  White  has  found  time  and  strength 
to  devote  to  public  interests. 

In  politics  during  his  earli-  r  years  he  was  a  whig, 
giving  his  first  vote  for  president  in  1840  to  Gen. 


380  THOMAS   WHITE. 

Harrison,  and  has  voted  at  every  presidential  election 
since.  He  continued  with  the  whig  party  until  it  was 
merged  with  the  republican,  since  which  time  he  has 
voted  with  the  latter. 

Mr.  White  has  been  called  to  fill  many  positions 
of  public  trust.  He  has  held  m:my  town  offices  and 
twice  represented  his  district  in  the  State  Legislature. 

The  lessons  from  such  a  life  are  numerous  and  in- 
structive. 

The  village  where  Mr.  White  was  born  has  grown 
from  a  little  village  to  be  an  incorporated  town,  and 
to  its  growth  and  prosperity  he  has  ministered  to  a 
no  small  extent.  It  is  surprising  to  most  that  two 
scores  of  years  should  be  a  sufficient  period  for  seed 
to  be  sown  and  to  develop  into  such  a  harvest. 

It  is  accounted  for,  however,  only  as  we  recall  the 
proverb  about  "a  shoemaker's  sticking  to  his  last." 
Such  men  are  the  priJe  of  New  England.  They  have 
given  stability  to  her  business  and  character  to  her 
institutions. 

The  author  of  this  book  has  visited  Mr.  White's 
manufactory  in  Holbrook,  and  was  much  amused,  in- 
structed and  richly  entertained  by  examining  and  hav- 
ing explained  to  him  by  Mr.  II.  M.  White,  the  various 
articles  of  machinery  by  which  boots  and  shoesare  pro- 
duced with  such  wonderful  facility  in  these  modern 
times.  Itwill  well  repay  any  man,  even  should  he  have  to 
take  a  long  journey  to  visit  and  carefully  examine  the 
wonderful  machines  which  can  be  found  in  this  im- 
mense manufactory.  Men  like  Mr.  White  and  his 


HON.    WILLIAM  B.    SPOONER.  381 

coadjutors  have  been  the  cause  and  life  of  our  flour- 
ishing New  England  villages,  towns  and  cities. 


HON.   WILLIAM  B.    SPOONER. 


Hox.  WILLIAM  B.  SPOONER,  one  of  our  most 
prominent  citizens  and  well-known  business  men  whose 
name  has  been  connected  with  many  philanthropic 
enterprises,  died  January,  1881,  in  Boston,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-four.  Mr.  Spooner  was  born  at  Ath- 
ol,  Mass.,  removing  in  early  boyhood  to  Vermont, 
where  he  learned  the  leather-tanning  trade.  He  came 
to  Boston  soon  after  attaining  his  majority,  entering 
the  leather  trade  under  the  linn  name  of  William  B. 
Spooner  &  Co.  The  business  ha*  been  continued  ever 
since  under  that  name  and  the  name  of  its  successors, 
Butler,  Dunn  &  Co. 

He  relinquished  active  business  in  1873. 

Mr.  Spooner  imbibed  his  temperance  sentiments 
when  a  boy,  the  example  of  the  gentleman  with  whom 
he  lived  causing  him  to  become  a  total  abstainer.  He 
remained  true  to  his  early  convictions  throughout  his 
long  and  useful  life.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  wel- 
come John  W.  Hawkins  from  Baltimore  in  1840  nnd 
was  ever  afterwards  connected  with  all  the  temperance 
organizations  in  the  State. 

He  was  president  of  the  State  temperance  commit- 
tee oud  o&erwaixU  of  tko  aliiuuoo  till  luOU,  ttiid  i'ouu- 


382  HON.    WILLIAM   B.    SPOONER. 

dor,  in  1871,  and  president,  up  to  his  death,  of  the 
Massachusetts  Total  Abstinence  Society. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature  in  1857, 
and  was  one  of  the  State  commissioners  at  the  Cen- 
tennial exhibition. 

He  was  a  man  of  great  benevolence.  In  a  book 
published  two  ye  irs  ago  by  Lee  &  Shepard,  and  writ- 
ten by  Rev.  William  M.  Thayer,  entitled  "Nelson 
Storer,"  Mr.  Spooner's  benefactions  are  said  to  have 
amounted  to  $700,000.  Mr.  Spooner  was  a  vigorous 
and  concise  writer,  and  it  was  his  hand  that  furnished 
a  large  number  of  the  reports  and  papers  issued  from 
time  to  time  by  temperance  organizations. 

As  a  business  man  Mr.  Spoon*  r  enjoyed  the  confi- 
dence of  all  -who  had  relations  with  him,  and  on  the 
formation  of  the  New  England  Shoe  and  Leather  As- 
sociation he  was  chosen  as  president  by  the  members 
of  that  body. 

He  was,  also,  during  many  years  one  of  tho  direc- 
tors of  the  Shoe  and  Leather  National  Bank. 

He  had  been  out  of  health  for  several  months.  His 
death  was  caused  by  a  cancer  in  the  throat.  He  Kaves 
an  invalid  widow,  but  no  other  family. 

I  knew  Mr.  Spooner  for  many  years  and  was  asso- 
ciated with  him  in  the  Massachusetts  State  Temper- 
ance Alliance,  which  did  good  service  for  the  cause 
of  temperance,  many  years.  We  have  had  no  man  in  this 
Commonwealth  who  has  done  more  for  temperance, 
and  bcm  more  consistent  in  his  devotion  to  this  cause 
than  William  1L  Spoouer.  He  spent  his  money  and 


HON.    WILLIAM  B.    SPOONER.  383 

his  time  in  striving  to  promote  this  good  cause,  for 
which  he  was  revi'ed  and  in-ulted. 

Another  gentleman  by  the  same  name,  dwelling  in 
the  same  street,  whose  house  was  assaulted,  had  his 
windows  broken,  and  his  carpets  spoiled  by  vitrol  and 
other  ingredients  thrown  upon  them.  Mr.  William  B. 
Spooner,  supposing  this  insult  was  intended  for  him, 
as  it  undoubtedly  was,  paid  his  namesake  the  value 
of  the  damage  done  to  his  house  and  furniture. 

Mr.  Spooler's  property,  since  his  decease,  has  been 
estima:ed  by  appraisers  at  between  three  and  four 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  When  we  consider  that 
he  gave  to  benevolent  purposes  alone  during  his  life 
more  than  $700,000,  it  is  evident  be  must  have  been 
a  very  prosperous  merchant. 

Mr.  Spooner  was  always  courteous,  pleasant  and 
kind  to  everybody;  and  he  was  always  ready  with 
his  sympathy  and  purse  for  all  who  suffered  affliction. 

It  affords  us  great  comfort  to  record  the  gooddeeds, 
and  worthy  example  of  such  a  man.  He  was  a  wor- 
thy meml>er  and  a  deacon  of  the  second  congregation- 
al church  [Unitarian]  in  Boston,  at  the  time  of  his 
decease.  Happy  would  it  be  for  us  if  we  liad  many 
more  such  men  as  was  William  B. ••JSptfuuer  among 
the  prominent  merchants  of.  our  city r  — 


384  FRANKLIN   SMITH. 

FRANKLIN  SMITH, 
UNDERTAKER. 


FRANKLIN  SMITH  was  born  in  Boston,  November 
7,  1807.  He  was  the  son  of  Martin  Smith  who  was 
sexton  of  King's  Chapel  thirty-six  years.  He  died 
in  Jaffrey  N.  H.,  April  17,  1869.  He  was  appointed 
an  undertaker  in  1839  and  held  the  office  till  his 
death.  He  was  sexton  of  the  fifth  Universalist  Church 
in  Warren  Street  for  nine  years  ;  and  succeeded  his 
father  as  sexton  at  King's  Chapel  for  seventeen  years. 
He  was  a  trust-worthy  man  and  universally  respected. 
His  business  as  an  undertaker  is  still  earned  on  by 
his  worthy  aon,  Benjamin  F.  Smith,  at  251  Tremout 
Street. 


CHAPTER  XYIL 


GEORGE   B.   EMERSON,   LL.   D. 


GEORGE  B.  EMERSON  was  born  September  12, 
1797,  in  Wells,  in  the  county  of  York,  district  of 
Maine,  then  a  part  of  Massachusetts.  His  father  was 
a  native  of  Hollis,  New  Hampshire.  He  graduated 
at  Cambridge  in  1847.  He  was  a  physician,  an  ex- 
cellent latin  scholar,  a  good  story  teller,  and  an  agree- 
able companion.  Though  a  physician,  he  owned  a 
little  farm  and  a  good  garden  in  which  young  Emer- 
son was  set  to  work  at  the  age  of  eight  years  with  an 
elder  brother.  Their  business  was  sowing,  weeding 
and  harvesting. 

Mr.  Emerson  says  of  this  period  of  his  life  :  "I' 
naturally  watched  the  character,  shape,  and  structure 
of  the  roots  and  of  the  leaves,  the  formation  of  the 
blossoms,  their  flowering,  the  calyx,  the  petals,  their 
times  of  opening,  coming  to  perfection,  persistence 
or  falling,  and  the  successive  changes  in  the  seed-ves- 
sels, till  the  maturity  of  the  seed  of  all  the  plants 
of  the  garden  and  the  field.  I  became  also  familiarly 
acquainted  with  all  the  weeds  and  their  roots,  and 
the  modes  of  preventing  their  doing  harm.  I  was 
getting  real  knowledge  of  things  ;  I  formed  the  habit 


386  GEORGE    B.    EMERSON. 

of  observing.  This  was  always  valuable  knowledge, 
the  use  of  which  I  felt  afterwards  when  I  began  to 
study  botany  as  a  science,  and  as  long  as  I  pursued 
it ;  for,  reading  the  description  of  a  plant,  I  saw  not 
the  words  of  the  book,  but  the  roots  and  stems,  and 
leaves  and  flowers,  and  seeds  of  the  plant  itself. 
And  this  habit  of  careful  observation  I  naturally  ex- 
tended to  whatever  was  the  subject  of  my  reading 
or  study." 

He  says  :  "I  learned  to  use  every  tool,  spade  and 
shovel,  hoe,  fork,  rake,  knife,  scythe,  and  to  like  to  use 
them."  He  found  this  of  great  service  and  comfort 
to  him.  He  took  care  of  horses,  sheep,  and  fowls. 
He  found  that  all  that  was  necessary  to  make  them 
like  him  was  to  treat  them  kindly.  This  is  a  gener- 
al principle  of  our  nature.  Kindness  begets  kindness. 

Even  in  his  childhood  he  became  acquainted  with 
the  trees,  shrubs,  oaks,  beeches,  birches,  maple, 
hickories,  pines,  spruces,  fir  and  hemlock.  Mr. 
John  Low  lent  him  the  tirst  volume  of  the  "Memoirs 
of  the  American  Academy,"  and  from  this  he  became 
acquainted  with  most  of  the  flowers  and  other  wild 
plants  in  the  neighborhood. 

He  read  books  of  travel,  Carver's  and  Bart  rani's, 
Park's  Travels  in  Africa,  and  Bruce's.  Of  poetry, 
he  read  Chaucer,  Shelley,  Gray  ton,  Cowper,  Thom- 
son, Goldsmith,  Milton,  Young,  and  Gray. 

His  older  brother  was  studying  latin  and  he  asked 
his  father  to  let  him  begin.  He  did,  and  set  him  to 
study  ing  Erasmus,  Corderius,  uud  the  other  old  school 


GEORGE    B.    EMERSON.  387 

books  used  seventy  or  eighty  years  ago.  He  was 
then  sent  to  Dummer  Academy  in  By  field,  where  he 
learned  to  repeat  Adam's  Latin  Grammer  and  the 
Gloucester  Greek. 

The  following  is  his  experience  in  fishing  with 
Abner  Cousins,  a  neighboring  boy.  He  became  much 
interested  in  this  sport.  On  one  of  these  excursions 
he  told  Abner  he  believed  his  hook  had  become  fas- 
tened to  something  at  the  bottom,  for  he  could  not 
move  it.  Abner  took  hold  of  his  line  and  immedi- 
ately said,  "You  have  hooked  a  halibut.  Now  keep 
your  line  free  from  the  gunwale  or  he  will  break  it. 
Keep  firm  hold  and  pull  carefully.  When  he  refuses 
to  come  upwards,  let  him  go  down."  The  fish  soon 
became  tired  and  they  drew  him  on  board.  He 
weighed  twice  as  much  as  young  Emerson. 

Mr.  Emerson  entered  Harvard  college  in  1813,  and 
had  a  room  assigned  him  with  Joseph  H.  Jones,  whom 
he  had  met  at  Dummer  Academy.  When  the  writer 
moved  to  Philadelphia  in  1861,  he  became  acquain- 
ted with  a  presbyterian  minister  who  had  been  set- 
tled in  that  city  for  forty  years.  This  was  the  same 
Joseph  H.  Jones,  with  whom  young  Emerson  roomed 
at  No.  11  Massachusetts  Hall.  Edward  Everett  was 
then  tutor. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  term  Emerson  went  home 
expecting  to  spend  the  vacation  there.  But  the  next 
day  after  his  arrival  there,  a  man  came  from  Mary- 
land district,  five  miles  off,  to  engage  his  older  broth- 
er to  teach  the  winter  school  there.  My  father  said  : 


388  GEOEGE   B.    EMERSON. 

"You  have  come  too  late.  Myson'went  offyesterday 
to  Boston  to  attend  the  medical  lectures."  The  man 
said,  "who  is  this  tall  fellow?  Why  can't  he  come?" 
The  father  replied,  "he  is  a  boy  only  sixteen  years 
old  who  has  come  home  to  spend  his  vacation."  An 
agreement  was  soon  made,  however,  that  this  boy 
should  teach  the  school  eight  or  nine  Aveeks,  which 
was  the  usual  length  of  the  term.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning of  George  B.  Emerson's  teaching,  in  which 
employment  he  spent  a  long  life,  and  was  eminently 
successful.  In  the  winter  of  his  Sophomore  year  he 
was  unable  to  teach;  but  in  his  junior  year  he  sup- 
plied the  place  of  an  older  man  in  a  school  in  Saco. 
Of  this  school  he  says  :  "  It  was  made  up  of  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  saw-millers  at  Saco  Falls,  who  kept 
the  mills  going  night  and  day.  The  girls  were  al- 
ways well  disposed  and  gave  me  no  trouble ;  but 
their  brothers,  taking  after  fathers  who  were  almost 
always  profane  and  unprincipled  drunkards,  were  as 
impudent  and  stubborn  as  boys  could  be.  I  had,  for 
the  only  time  in  my  life,  to  depend  upon  the  ferule 
and  other  implements  of  brute  force.  It  was  only 
when  they  found  that  I  was  fearless,  and  resolved  at 
any  cost,  to  be  master,  that  they  submitted.  It  was 
with  as  great  pleasure,  for  a  moment,  as  I  ever  felt, 
that,  sitting  at  breakfast  on  Monday  morning,  on  my 
return  from  my  father's,  where  I  always  spent  Sun- 
day, I  was  surprised  by  a  sudden  light,  and  looking 
back  saw  from  the  window  the  ruinous  old  school- 
house  in  flames. " 


GEORGE    B.    EMEESON.  389 

Returning  one  night  from  a  visit  to  some  acquain- 
tances, Emerson  was  accosted  by  his  chum,  Jones, 
reading  the  life  of  Sir  William  Johnes.  Sir  William 
says  that,  "to  sleep  more  than  four  hours  in  one  night 
is  being  an  ass."  Young  Emerson  replied,  "I  do  not 
wish  to  be  an  ass,  though  I  have  great  respect 
for  that  animal.  Shall  we  try  the  four-hour  plan?" 
"Yes,  and  begin  it  this  very  evening."  "But  how 
about  waking  after  the  four  hours  sleep?"  "We 
may  study  till  two  o'clock  every  night,  and  to  save 
our  eyes  read  some  pleasant  book  alternately  for  the 
last  two  hours." 

So  it  was  agreed  and  Emerson  sat  down  immedi- 
ately to  study  Greek.  The  class  had  been  reading 
the  Anabasis.  He  liked  it,  and  found  it  very  easy, 
and  determined  to  read  the  whole  of  it.  He  soon 
learned  to  read  Greek  without  a  Lexicon. 

When  he  had  finished  Xenophon,  he  and  his  chum 
Jones  read  Herodotus,  Hesiod,  Anacreon,  the  letters 
of  Pliny  the  younger,  and  some  of  the  philosophical 
works  of  Cicero,  and  at  the  same  time  attended  to  all 
their  regular  lessons  in  college.  After  pursuing  this 
course  for  many  weeks,  he  was  taken  with  a  pain  in 
the  side,  and  getting  no  relief  he  went  home  to  be 
treated  by  his  father.  In  the  course  of  three  months 
he  was  sufficiently  recovered  to  return  to  his  studies 
at  college.  He  says  :  "Our  senior  year  was  a  pleas- 
ant one.  I  learned  with  ease  all  the  lessons  required, 
and  thus  had  time  for  voluntary  studies.  I  went  on 
with  my  Greek,  and  read  in  the  course  of  the  year 


390  GEORGE   B.    EMEESON. 

all  of  Homer  except  the  last  book  of  the  Odyssey.  In 
the  winter  vacation,  at  my  boarding-house  in  Bolton, 
which  was  near  the  school,  I  repeatedly  committed  to 
memory  thirty  lines  of  Homer  in  thirty  minutes.  Imen- 
tion  this  to  record  the  shameful  fact  that,  from  neglecting 
fairly  to  use  my  memory  for  four  or  five  years  from 
that  time,  I  lost  it  almost  entirely,  and  it  has  ever 
since  been  a  poor  one.  I  have  never  known  a  per- 
son whose  memory  continued  to  be  good  and  even, 
to  improve  in  ripe  age,  who  did  not  habitually  exer- 
cise it  on  poetry  or  something  other  than  the  poor 
affairs  and  business  of  daily  life.  Mr.  Emerson  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College  in  1817,  and  went  immedi- 
ately to  his  father's  in  Wells.  He  had  been  at  home 
but  two  days  when  Dr.  Kirkland.  the  president, 
offered  him  the  place  of  Master  of  a  private  school  in 
Lancaster.  He  took  this  school  at  a  salary  of  $500 
a  year.  This  was  considered  a  large  salary  at  that 
time.  This  school  has  been  limited  to  twenty-five 
pupils  ;  but  such  was  his  skill  and  tact  at  teaching, 
that  at  the  end  of  the  first  quarter  it  numbered  forty- 
two.  He  says:  "The  discipline  in  my  school,  al- 
though such  as  was  common  in  those  days,  was  bad 
in  every  respect.  I  kept  a  switch  and  a  ferule,  and 
used  them  both,  often  feeling,  as  I  did  so,  like  a  ma- 
lignant spirit,  and  sometimes  acting  in  an  evil  spirit. 
I  have  many  times  wished  that  I  could  have  asked  the 
pardon  of  one.  boy  whom  I  had  punished  unjustly, 
and  in  a  passion  ;  but  he  never  came  to  see  me,  and  I 
have  no  doubt  he  retained,  perhaps  always,  a  right- 


GEORGE    B.    EMERSON.  391 

ecus  grudge  against   me." 

I  doubt  if  many  of  us  who  taught  in  those  days  and 
used  similar  discipline  could  not  say  the  same. 

After  teaching  two  years  in  Lancaster  he  left,  with 
his  own  horse  and  pocket  full  of  money,  and  feeling 
richer  than  he  ever  did  afterwards,  to  become  a  tutor 
in  Harvard  College. 

In  the  faculty  of  the  college  he  was  associated  with 
Professor  Hedge,  the  elder,  Rev.  Henry  Ware,  Caleb 
Gushing,  Edward  Everett,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Norton 
of  the  Theological  School.  Mr.  Emerson  still  con- 
sidered himself  a  teacher  and  used  every  method  to 
find  out  how  to  teach  well.  He  soon  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  exciting  the  emulation  of  children  was 
heathenish,  and  ought  not  to  be  tolerated  in  n  Chris- 
tian school — a  conclusion  which  the  writer  long  sinee 
came  to,  and  recommended  to  the  Boston  School  Com- 
mittee, respecting  the  distribution  of  the  city  medals, 
which  they  then  rejected,  but  twelve  years  afterwards 
adopted.  Mr.  Emerson  left  the  tutorship  in  Cambridge 
to  become  master  of  the  English  Classical  School  of 
Boston,  in  which  he  was  very  successful  as  a  teacher. 
The  greatest  difficulty  he  found  while  master  of  this 
school  was  in  awarding  the  city  medals.  The  writer 
passed  through  a  similar  ordeal  in  distributing  the 
same  medals  while  chairman  of  a  district  school  com- 
mittee in  Boston.  Mr.  Emerson  describes  this  horrid 
practice  as  follows  :  — 

"The  most  serious  difficulty  I  ever  encountered  in 
the  management  of  the  boys  was  presented  by  the 


392  GEORGE    B.    EMEKSCXN. 

necessity  of  awarding  the  city  medals.  Six  medals 
were  sent  to  me  to  be  given  to  the  six  best  scholars 
in  my  first  class.  Who  were  the  six  best?  I  laid 
the  matter  before  the  school,  telling  the  boys  that  it 
was  impossible  for  me  to  tell  who  best  deserved  the 
medals.  To  do  that  I  ought  to  know  who  had  been 
most  faithful ,  who  had  overcome  the  greatest  difficul- 
ties, who,  struggling  against  nature  and  inadequate 
preparation,  had  made  really  the  greatest  progress. 
I  had  never  had  a  head  in  any  class.  It  would  not 
have  been  difficult  to  guess  who  would  have  been  at 
the  head.  But  one  Avho  from  excellent  preparation 
and  fine  natural  talents,  would  have  placed  himself  at 
the  head,  was  really  not  so  deserving  of  a  medal  as 
the  boy  who  had  overcome  difficulties  most  success- 
fully and  improved  his  natural  powers  most  faithfully. 
"I  must  assign  the  medals.  I  should  do  it  as  well 
as  I  could,  but  I  could  not  be  sure  that  I  did  it  justly. 
I  did,  accordingly,  give  the.  medals  to  the  six  whom 
I  considered  the  most  deserving,  and  who  were  appar- 
ently the  best  scholars.  This  assignment  gave  evident 
satisfaction  in  almost  every  case,  but  there  was  one 
boy  who  was  bitterly  disappointed,  and  who  naturally 
charged  his  disappointment  to  me.  lie  never  looked 
kindly  at  me  from  that  hour  ;  and  whenever,  for  years 
after,  I  met  him  on  the  street,  he  looked  away  with 
a  cloud  on  his  face.  If  I  had  had  one  medal  more  I 
would  hare  given  it  to  him.  But  there  were  only  six 
to  give.  I  ought  to  have  gone  to  the  committee  and 
insisted  on  having  another  to  bestow  ;  but  I  did  not. 


GEORGE    B.    EMERSON.  393 

The  poor  boy,  afterwards  a  somewhat  distinguished 
man,  never  forgave  me — and  I  never  forgave  myself; 
and  I  never  look  back  upon  the  whole  matter,  and 
never  think  of  him,  but  with  pain." 

JVTr.  Emerson's  eyes  were  bad.  They  had  troubled 
him  very  much  for  a  long  time,  and  prevented  his 
reading  and  compelled  him  to  hear  recitations  without 
a  book.  He  gives  the  following  account  of  how  they 
were  cured.  He  was  visiting  Dr.  N.  Bowditch,  the 
great  American  mathematician,  in  Salem.  "He  per- 
ceived the  great  difficulty  I  had  with  my  eyes,  and  at 
once  told  me  that  at  about  my  age,  he  had  suffered  in 
the  same  way,  trying  doctors  and  their  prescriptions 
in  vain  ;  but  it  occurred  to  him  that  the  eye  was  made 
for  the  light,  and  light  for  the  eye,  and  that,  when  he 
went  out,  he  ought  to  take  the  sunniest  side  of  the 
street,  and  not  the  shady  side  ;  and  that  the  irritation 
in  his  eyes  might  be  allayed  by  the  application  of  cold 
water.  He  tried  that,  opening  his  eyes  in  cold  water, 
first  in  the  morning  and  last  at  night,  and  whenever 
they  seemed  to  need  it,  and  continuing  the  act  till  the 
irritation  was  gone.  In  a  few  weeks  his  eyes  were 
well,  and  had  so  continued  all  his  life.  I  tried  the 
experiment  in  every  particular,  and  in  a  few  weeks 
my  eyes  were  perfectly  well,  and  have  so  continued 
up  to  this  day."  When  Mr.  Emerson  wrote  this  he 
was  fourscore  years  old. 

He  taught  the  classical  school  about  two  years, 
and  then  such  inducements  were  held  out  to  him, 
that  he  relinquished  the  boys  school  and  opened  a 


394  GEORGE    B.    EMEESON. 

private  school  for  young  ladies.  This  was  his  life's 
work,  and  in  it  he  shone  conspicuously.  The  two 
principal  arguments  which  induced  him  to  leave  the 
teaching  of  boys,  and  engage  in  that  of  girls,  were, 
first,  that  mothers  are  the  chief  teachers  of  their  chil- 
dren ;  and  second,  that  he  would  receive  a  larger  in- 
come than  he  did  from  the  public  school,  which  would 
enable  him  to  marry  and  live  more  to  his  mind.  lie 
was  then  twenty-six  years  of  age.  It  would  be  pleas- 
ant to  speak  more  particularly  of  the  instruction 
which  he  gave  the  young  ladies,  but  our  limits  will 
not  permit  it. 

Mr.  Emerson  filled  many  other  important  offices. 
He  was  the  first  president  of  the  Boston  Natural  His- 
tory Society,  and  ever  an  active  member  of  that  soci- 
ety. He  was  also  president  of  the  American  Insti- 
tute of  Instruction,  and  drew  up  the  petition  for  the 
establishment  of  normal  schools  in  the  state  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, when  Edward  Everett  was  governor.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  and  prominent  members  of  the 
state  board  of  education. 

As  he  had  now  been  actively  engaged  for  more  than 
forty  years  in  teaching,  and  always  successful,  his 
health  being  somewhat  impaired;  by  the  advice  of 
friends  he  took  a  trip  to  Europe  and  was  absent  two 
years. 

On  his  return  he  gave  an  interesting  address  to 
country  ladies  upon  forest  trees  which  has  been 
published. 

Then  he  gave  in  1£74,  a  valuable  address  before 


GEORGE   B.    EMERSON.  395 

the  Boston  Natural  History  Society,  on  what  we  owe 
to  Louis  Agassiz  as  a  teacher. 

Mr.  Emerson's  farewell  address  to  the  young  ladies 
of  his  school  is  as  elegant  a  piece  of  composition  as 
are  Blair's  lectures  on  rhetoric,  and  replete  with  good 
advice  and  wise  counsel.  It  should  be  read  by  all 
teachers  and  all  schools. 

Mr.  Emerson  died  March  4,  1881,  in  the  eighty- 
fourth  year  of  his  age.  He  had  been  feeble  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  at  times  his  mind  was  wandering.  At 
others  it  was  unclouded  and  as  bright  as  it  ever  was. 
The  writer  spent  an  hour  with  him  at  his  residence  in 
Boston  about  a  year  since,  during  which  he  conversed 
as  freely,  and  as  eloquently  upon  various  subjects  as 
he  ever  did  in  the  meridian  of  his  days.  It  was  the 
last  interview  I  ever  had  with  him ;  and  in  it  he  re- 
counted many  of  the  facts  related  in  this  paper.  At 
the  same  time  I  asked  him  for  his  autograph  for  a 
book  of  chirography  which  I  was  then  making.  He 
wrote  his  name,  and  under  it  school-master,  which  he 
said  "is  the  only  title  which  I  ever  put  to  my  name." 

I  have  given  but  one  schoolmaster  in  this  book  :  but 
I  may  say  of  him  as  the  Lioness  (when  lionesses  talked) 
is  reported  to  have  said  to  those  who  reproached  her 
because  she  had  but  one  whelp.  "Yes,  one;  but  a 
Lion."  So,  Mr.  Emerson  is  a  model  for  all  teach- 
ers,— one,  but  a  whole  one. 

Mr.  Emerson's  views  of  medals  as  above  expressed 
harmonize  so  well  with  my  own  that  I  refer  to  my 
report  which  I  made  to  the  school  committee  on  this 


396  GEORGE    B.    EMERSON. 

subject  in  1855  ;  and  which  they  rejected  by  an  over- 
whelming majority.  Twelve  years  afterwards  the 
same  committee  abolished  the  distribution  of  city 
medals. 

IN  ansAver  to  a  request  of  Rev.  Charles  F.  Barn- 
ard, and  others  of  a  similar  character,  the  school 
board,  in  1855,  appointed  a  committee  to  report 
upon  the  subject,  of  which  the  writer  was  chairman, 
and  he  presented  a  report  from  which  the  following 
ase  extracts. 

Your  committee  believe  the  feeling  to  be  very  gen- 
eral in  this  community,  that  too  much  and  too  many 
studies  are  required  of  the  pupils,  and  that  an  unnec- 
essary and  injurious  stimulus  is  too  often  applied  to 
induce  them  to  accomplish  more  intellectual  labor 
than  is  consistent  with  proper  attention  to  their  phys- 
ical exercise  and  a  due  regard  to  their  health. 

*_/ 

Nor  is  this  feeling  or  complaint  confined  to  those 
who  can  be  considered  unacquainted  with  the  physi- 
cal and  intellectual  capacity  and  wants  of  children.  It 
has  been  often  made,  and  sustained  among  us,  not  by 
clergymen  and  tender  parents  only,  but  also  by  emi- 
nent physicians. 

As  long  ago  as  June  30,  1853,  Dr.  Henry  G. 
Clarke,  then  and  now  the  city  physician,  addressed 
the  school  committee  in  the  following  language  : 

'f  Gentlemen  of  the  school  committee, — permit  me, 
in  relation  to  an  evil  which  I  believe  to  exist,  espec- 
ially in  the  girls'  schools  under  your  care,  to  ask  for 
it  that  attention  from  your  board  which  is  only  nee- 


GEORGE   B.    EMERSON.  397 

essary  to  insure  the  application  of  an  appropriate  rem- 
edy- 

"  I  allude  to  the  excessive  amount  of '  out-of- school- 
study,'  which  either  the  expectations  of  the  commit- 
tee, the  over-stimulus  effects  of  the  present  systems 
of  rank  and  rewards,  or  some  other  causes,  do  not 
fail  to  exact  from  many  of  the  pupils." 

Dr.  J.  V.  C.  Smith,  the  late. president  of  this  board, 
as  a  medical  man,  has  also  borne  his  testimony 
against  excessive  study  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
city  of  Boston. 

In  Rev.  Mr.  Barnard's  letter,  referred  to  your  com- 
mittee, is  the  following  strong  language:  "I  know, 
from  observing  my  own  children,  and  still  more  so 
from  observing  the  large  numbers  embraced  in  my 
ministry,  that  the  complaints  (those  of  too  great  an 
amount  of  study,)  are  general,  real  and  serious." 

Your  committee  fully  concur  in  the  opinion  of  these 
medical  gentlemen,  and  ot  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barnard, 
and  believe  it  incumbent  upon  this  board,  as  the  legal 
guardians  of  the  children,  so  far  as  their  connection 
with  the  public  schools  is  concerned,  to  adopt  some 
plan  which  shall  effectually  prevent  the  evil  com- 
plained of,  and  which  shall  give  assurance  to  parents 
that  the  physical  and  intellectual  health  of  the  chil- 
dren shall,  from  the  cause  of  excessive  study,  be  no 
longer  endangered. 

In  reference  to  the  present  system  of  "  rank  and 
rewards,"  your  committe  believe  that  there  is  just 
ground  for  ctjmplaiat,  especially  iia  reference  to  the. 


398  GEORGE   B.    EMERSON. 

stimulus  applied  in  the  way  of  medals,  and  this  also 
has  an  unfavorable  effect  upon  the  health  of  the  chil- 
dren. Would  it  not  be  infinitely  better  that  the 
whole  system  of  distributing  medals,  as  now  prac- 
ticed, should  be  abandoned?  Your  committee  be- 
lieve this  question  should  be  answered  in  the  nffir- 
mative,  and  for  the  following  reasons  : 

1st.  The  stimulus  of  securing  a  prize,  by  excelling 
others,  operates  the  most  powerfully  upon  precocious 
children  —  a  class  which  always  require  holding  back 
rather  than  urging  forward. 

2d.  We  object  to  this  distribution  of  medals,  as 
now  practiced,  because  it  recognizes  and  acts  upon  a 
principle  which  flows  neither  from  God  nor  nature  : 
to  wit,  that  the  capacities,  or  minds  and  bodies  of  all 
children,  are  equal. 

3d.  This  distribution  of  medals  is  an  injury  to  the. 
successful  candidate.  It  stimulates  his  pride — excites 
those  very  feelings  and  passions  which  every  wise  and 
prudent  parent  or  teacher  who  desires  to  cultivate  the 
heart,  finds  it  most  difficult  to  suppress. 

4th.  It  is  productive  of  evil  to  the  unsuccessful 
candidates. 

5th.  The  present  system  of  awarding  medals 
injures  the  good  influence  of  the  teacher  upon  the 
pupils,  and  greatly  perplexes  him  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duty. 

CJth.     It  also  injures  the  parents. 

7th.  Another  reason  why  the  present  management 
of  the  schools  is  injurious  to  the  pupils  is,  it  allows 


GEORGE    B.    EMERSON.  399 

them  little  or  no  opportunity  for  relaxation  and  exer- 
cise at  the  recess. 

Your  committee  feel  very  grateful  to  two  of  the 
daily  papers  of  this  city,  for  the  following  article :  to 
the  editor  of  one,  for  writing,  and  of  the  other,  for 
endorsing  it : 

"We  were  present  at  the  school  festival  in  Faneuil 
Hall  on  Tuesda}r  last.  We  will  whisper  a  confession 
into  the  ear  of  the  public  that  we  have  doubts  and 
misgivings — growing  with  our  growth  and  strength- 
ening with  our  strength — as  to  the  whole  system  of 
medals,  Franklin  and  City ;  and  as  to  the  wisdom  of 
selecting  a  few  boys  and  girls  out  of  a  school  for'these 
conspicuous  decorations,  and  leaving  the  rest  unno- 
ticed. We  doubt  whether  the  intellectual  advantages, 
especially  in  the  case  of  girls,  are  not  counterbalanced 
by  injurious  moral  influences  ;  and  even  in  an  intel- 
lectual point  of  view,  we  question  whether  the  effect 
be  not  to  stimulate  the  quick  and  bright,  who  need  it 
not,  and  to  depress  the  slow  and  timid,  who  need  en- 
couragement. But  for  a  Boston  editor  or  a  Boston 
man  to  hint  any  doubts  upon  the  subject  of  the  Frank- 
lin medals,  is  like  speaking  disrespectfully  of  the 
equator,  or  suggesting  an  inquiry  whether  the  sun  and 
moon  are  not  beginning  to  break  up  a  little,  and  to 
show  a  failure  in  their  faculties  ;  and  we  therefore  say 
what  we  have  said  timidly  and  depreciatingly. 'W. 
Boston  Courier. 

WM.  M.  CORNELL,   Chairman* 


I^DEX. 


A 

Ancestral,  3. 

Anderson.  13. 

Alexander,  Rev.  A.,  51. 

Assembly,  General.  51.  62. 

Adams.  Miss  Hannah,  83. 

Association,  Mendon,  88. 

Andover,  98. 

Adams,  Rev.  X.,  108.  110. 

Adams,  Rev.  W.  H.,  111. 

Amherst  College,  114. 

Anecdotes.  174. 

Andros,  Rev.  Thomas,  175.  177. 

182,  188. 

Alexander,  Prof.,  203. 
Aiken,  Dr..  223,  229. 
Alden.  John,  238. 
Andover,  Seminary.  249. 
Amherst  College,  249. 
Agnew.  Dr.,  201. 
Alden,  Rev.  Mr.,  20G. 


Biographical,  9. 

Beecher,   Rev.  Lyman.  3,  14, 

117. 

Book,  9. 
Bible.  6,  18. 
Bray,  5. 
Burr,  Aaron,  5. 
Bent.  Rev.  Josiah,  45,  48. 
Breokenridge,  Rev.  It.  J.,  51. 
Bethlehem.  Pa.,  59. 
Barnes,  Rev.  Albert.  66. 
Brown  University,  74,  75,  280. 
Burgees,  Rev.  Dr.,  83. 
Bates,  Rev.  Lewis.  89. 
Burt,  Miss  Abigail.  92, 
Brooklyn.  IS'.  Y.,98. 
British.  101. 
Baker.  103. 
Baptist,  John,  121. 
Birth,  122. 
Buptiat,  Phiutaa,  l$9. 


Berkeley,  43,  92,  170,  179,  185. 
Boardman,  Dr.  H.  A.,  194,  195, 

212,-216. 
Bond.  Dr.,  252. 
Blackmer.  Dr.,  257. 
Beadle,  Rev.  Dr..  258,  259. 
Blagden,  Rev.  Dr.,  268. 
Boston.  311. 
Bryant.  W.  C.,  315. 
Brigharn.  T.  D..  343. 
Binghainpton,  351. 
Brown,  Dr.  Joel,  354. 

C 

Commemorate  the  Virtue.  2. 

College,  Yale,  4. 

Carpet.  5. 

Champion.  Jtidah.  10. 

Chaplin,  Dr.,  94. 

Cushion.  17. 

Cobb,  Rev.  Dr.,  33.  35,  37. 

College.  42. 

Crane,  Dr.  John,  80. 

Clark,  Rev.  Joseph  S..  246.  247, 

Clark,  Rev.  R.  W.,  97.  99,  108. 

Clarke,  Rev.  Dr.  D.,  285.  290. 

Cobb,  Rev.  Dr.  Oliver.  113. 

Carey.  Richard.  120. 

Charming,  Dr.  W.  E.,  121.  124, 

131.  140. 

Civilization.  126. 
Christian  Minister,  135. 
Cosmopolite.  143. 
Cook.  Rev.  Henry  A.,  160. 
Chaplin,  161. 
Crocker,  Miss  B.,  171. 
Crane,  Adoniram.  185. 
Calhouu,  J.  C.,  214. 
Chapin,  A.  L..  218. 
Cone.  Rev.  Dr.,  293. 
Chandler,  Dr.,  342. 
Clark,  Martha  A.,  348. 
Canterbury,  X.  H.,  tfGU. 
Cfovker,  869. 


INDEX. 


401 


D 

Dress,  4. 

Dilworth,  4. 

Dahol's,  4. 

Dwight,  President,  4. 

Duelling,  5. 

Democrats,  8. 

Dickinson.  Mrs.  P.  R..  47. 

Dexter,  Kev.  H.  M.,  71,  72, 112 

Dnrfee,  Judge,  79. 

Dexter,  Rev.  Elijah.  112,  114. 

Dow,  Rev.  L.,  145,  149,  158. 

Dreams,  14G. 

Deaf  and  Dumb  Institute.  219. 

Dewitt.  Rev.  Dr.,  193.  2G4. 

Dartmouth  College.  307. 

Dudley.  Mass..  343. 

Day.  Dr.  Albert,  346. 

Dawes,  Dr.,  355.  357,  360. 

E 

East  Hampton,  5. 
Evangelist,  32,  328. 
Eva,  Rev.  Dr.  W.  T.,  49.  63.  65. 
Eminons,  Rev.  Dr..  70,  83,  306 
Enoch,  156. 
Eli,  183. 
Eastham,  191. 
England,  New,  255. 
Emmons.  Mary,  279. 
Elting,  Rev.  Dr.,  292. 
Enfield's  Astronomy,  303. 
Emerson,  Geo,  B.,  385, 391,  395, 
Everett,  Edward.  389. 

F 

Farmer.  4. 

Federalism.  8. 

Falmouth.  46. 

Fanatic.  139. 

Fisher.  Miss.  220. 

Pinner,  Rev.C.  G.,  225. 231. 236, 

French,  Jonathan,  238, 240, 243. 

Foster,  Dr.  L.,  352,  353,  354. 


Guilford,  3. 


Gardiner,  John  L.,  7. 
Guilders,  105. 
Geography,  120. 
Ga van,  Roland,  180. 
Granger,  Arthur.  220. 
Goodwin,  Rev.  Mr..  304. 
Garrison.  William  Lloyd.  318. 
Griffin.  Rev.  Dr.,  333. 
Gordon,  Dr.  Timothy,  338,341. 
Godfrey,  Dr.  Jones,  355,  356. 

H 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  6. 
Hall,  Rev.  Robert,  44. 
Huntington.  Rev.  Joshua,  46. 
Hodge,  Rev.  Charles,  57,  203. 
Ilawes,  Rev.  Dr.  Joel,  78. 
Hitchcock,  Professor,  96. 
Hour-Glass,  102. 
Holmes,  Rev.  Abiel,  108. 
Haven,  New,  117. 
History;  144. 
Hulseman,  Baron,  214. 
Headly,  P.  C.,233. 
Hayne.  Rev.  Dr.,  291,  297,  299. 
Holt.  Dr.  II.,  344.  * 
Halibut,  387. 
Harvard  College,  387. 
Homer,  390. 


Inquiry.  35. 

Ide.  Rev.  J.,  87, '274,  276,  284. 

Indian  Tribes,  119. 

Inspiration,  133. 

Ide,  Jacob,  Jr.,  279. 

Ide,  A.  W.,  279. 


Jersey,  Old,  176. 
Jefferson,  Thomas,  184. 
Jewett,  Ruth,  302. 
Jones,  J.  B.,  339. 
Jones,  Lewis,  363. 

K 

Killiugworth,  25. 


402 


INDEX. 


Kensington,  63. 
Kossuth,  Louis,  213. 
Kirk,  Rev.  E.  1ST.,  223. 
Kinney  Street.  296. 
Knapp,  Rev.  Jacob.  325,  326. 


Litchfield,  10. 

Lot,  9. 

Lambert,  15. 

Lord,  Rev.  Dr..  40. 

Legislature,  118. 

Leach,  Rev.  Daniel,  167.  169. 

Lester,  Astro,  172. 

Lorrimer,  Rev.  Dr.,  268. 

Lowell  Lectures,  323. 

M 

Mills,  Rev.  S.  J..  26. 

Modesty.  31. 

Manner.  36. 

Milton,  45. 

Musgrave,  Rev.  Dr..  49,  60.  68 

Miller,  Rev.  S.,  51. 

Missions,  Domestic,  53. 

Montfort,  Rev.,  62. 

Maxcy,  Dr.  Jonathan,  75,  78. 

Metcalf,  Hon.  Tlreron,  79. 

Marcy,  William  L.,  79. 

Moody,  99. 

Megapolensis.  Johannes,  104. 

Morse,  Rev.  Jedediah,  117. 118 

Ministry,  136. 

Magistrate,  151. 

Merrill,  Rev.  A.  D.,  163,  166. 

Modesty,  Female,  173. 

Macaulay,  195. 

Miller,  Professor,  203. 

Mann,  Hon.  Horace,  315. 

Masonville,  327. 

Meriden,  N.  H.,  355. 

Mason.  William,  367. 

Mystic,  Ct..  367. 

Maryland.  388. 

Medals.  Six.  392. 

Medals,  Dr.  Cornell  ou.  396. 


N 

Nettleton.  Dr..  4,  25.  27.  35.  39. 

Noah's  Flood,  29. 

Newark,  66. 

Needham,  165. 

Newport,  170. 

Xorwich,  Ct..  175. 

Xeale,  Rev.  Dr.,  265,  267. 

Northampton,  286. 

Nott,  Dr.  E.,  343. 

Norton.  Rev.  Mr.,  391. 

o 

Oil  Can.  10. 

Old  W ,  22. 

Orthodox.  27. 
Observer,  New  York,  120. 
Oxford.  219. 
Otis.  H.  G..  364. 
Odyssey,  390. 


Presbytery,  6. 

Peter,  Saint,  9. 

Payson.  Dr..  11. 

Princeton,  N.  J..  46,  294. 

Plymouth,  Mass..  71,  338. 

PaVk,  Rev.  C..  73.  76.  81.  86.  89. 

Park.  Rev.  Calvin  E..  73. 

Park,  Rev.  E.  A.,  73. 

Park,  Prof.  Thomas,  74.  250. 

Pond.  Rev.  Enoch,  79. 

Page.  Rev.  Jesse.  95. 

Portsmouth,  N.  II..  88.  278. 

Plympton,  115. 

Portland,  116. 

Progress.  130. 

Preaching,  131,  150. 

Peggy,  148. 

Pipe,  153. 

Perry,  177. 

Pike,  178. 

Pulpit,  179. 

Phillips,  181. 

Poor,  Ebenezer,  185. 

Porter,  Judge,  200. 

Pilgrim  Father's,  248. 


INDEX. 


403 


Presbytery,  Philadelphia,  262. 
Pentacost,  272. 
Parker,  Rev.  Dr.,  300. 
Puncharcl,  Rev.  Geo..  306.  313 
Plymouth,  X.  H..  309. 
Paine,  John  S.,  361,  363. 


Quincy,  305. 


Q 


Rabbit,  9. 
Revival,  14. 
Rogers,  Roland,  68. 
Raymond.  Rev.  Stetson,  70. 
Rogers,  Ebenezer  P.,  104. 
Renssalaer.  107. 
Reason,  127. 
Rhode  Island.  144. 
Richmond,  369; 

S 

Stiles,  Dr..  4. 

Shirrell's.  5. 

Sermon.  29. 

Smith.  Baxter  Perry,  41. 

Sanford,  Rev.  John.  43,  45. 

Schanmenkessel.  49. 

Symvnes,  Rev.  J.  H.,  64. 

Staples.  Judge,  79. 

Storrs.  Rev.  Dr.,  83,  86. 

Stoughton.  84,  85. 

Sanford,  Rev.  Baalis.  92. 

Sanford.  Captain  Joseph,  93. 

Sanford,  Rev.  Enoch.  94. 

Slavery,  100. 

Society,  120. 

Schools  of  Theology.  123. 

Stowe,  Rev.  Phineas,  159,  269. 

Superintendent.  168. 

Samuel.  172. 

Sanford,  Deacon  George,  186. 

Steele,  Rev.  Joel,  189,  190.  193 

Steele,  Rev.  George  M..  192. 

Stuart,  George  H.,  201. 

Stone,  Rev.  A.  L.,  217,  223. 

Stone,  D.  M.,  219, 


San  Francisco,  221. 
Sturbridge,  252. 
Southington,  265. 
Stuart,  Professor,  303. 
Salem,  308. 

Sherwiu,  Thomas,  319. 
Shepherd,  Mrs.,  358. 
Sherman,  Roger,  371. 
Smith,  Franklin,  384. 
Schoolmaster,  271,  395. 


Trunk,  11. 

Tappen.  Arthur,  24,  18. 

Taunton.  26.  44,  190,  369. 

Thompson,  Rev.  Otis,  70. 

Tarbox,  Dr  ,  90,  91. 

Tinker.  142. 

Tolland,  145. 

Tobey,  Rev.  S..  170,  171.  188. 

Tobey,  Judge,  182. 

Thayer  Rev.  W.  M.,  274. 

Traveller,  Daily.  310. 

Taylor.  Rev.  E.  T..  332 337. 

Taylor.  Rev.  Mr..  316. 
Tuckerman.  Rev.  Dr..  239.  320. 

u 

Unitarians,  12. 

Unity,  165. 

Union  Sunday  School,  2)9. 

Utica,  229. 

University.  Brown,  277,  278. 

University,  Harvard,  320. 


Visits,  34. 
Virginia,  144. 
Vermont,  144. 
Volumes,  Quarto.  256. 
Venice,  321. 


Washington.  George,  10. 
Weymouth,  46. 
Wylie,  Rev.  S.  B.,  50. 
Webb,  Rev,  Dr.,  95, 


404 


INDEX. 


Westerlo,  Dominie,  106. 
Woodstock,  Ot.,  117,  185. 
Widower,  159. 

Whittemore,  Rev.  Benj..  186. 
Webster,  Daniel,  214. 
Whitefield,  232. 
Wisner,  Dr.,  233. 
Westhampion,  285. 
Williams,  Rev.  Dr..  291. 
Welch.  Rev.  Dr..  294. 


Wayland,  Rev.  Dr..  295. 
Williams,  Rev.  Thomas,  301. 
Warfield.  Rev.  F.  A..  306. 
Watterson.  Rev.  Dr.,  314—324. 
Wins  low,  John  A.,  364. 
Willis,  X.  P.,  364. 
White,  Thomas.  371.  375. 

Y 

Yale  College,  226. 


UCSB    LIBRARY 


